JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Recent numbers from Moody's Economy.com give us some optimism about job growth in America over the next year. Jobs nationally are expected to grow 1.8%. Florida is expected to see more than 3% job growth while Jacksonville's job growth is predicted at 2%.
Jobs in Florida that were hit hardest are expected to recover. Construction tops the list in Florida at 7.9% job growth, followed by National Resources and Mining at 6.2% and Leisure and Hospitality at 5%.
About 30 construction workers right now are helping to build the new 11-story Baptist Tower on the Southbank in Jacksonville. Superintendent Wallace Garrison says its great to see his guys working again. "It looks like it's picking up some. I've been on the road for two and a half years and it looks as though we've turned the corner," says Garrison.
Garrison's guys are building what Jacksonville and America needs, more healthcare facilities. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that half of the twenty fastest growing occupations in the economy are healthcare related. Due to the aging baby boomers, 460,000 home health aides will be needed thought 2018. Other hot jobs are computer software engineers and network systems and data communications analysts.
Still Jacksonville's unemployment rate remains at 10.3%. Nationally, the jobless rate is at 9.2%. There's still along way to go before the economy recovers but signs may be pointing up.
First Coast News