In March, Jacksonville, Fla., experienced stronger-than-expected job growth, with three major industries leading the way in hiring. These industries included healthcare and private education, leisure and hospitality, and government. Nearly 69% of all employees were accounted for by these three sectors.
According to new federal data, 303,000 new jobs were created in March, beating economists’ forecasts of 200,000. The healthcare sector showed the strongest job growth in the latest report, creating nearly a quarter of all new jobs in the US economy. Within this sector, ambulatory care and hospitals led the way in job creation, adding 72,000 jobs in March alone.
Michelle Edmonds, Director of Nursing at UNF, noted that the demand for healthcare jobs is not surprising given the constant need for staff in new hospitals and clinics. She explained that their program received state funding to increase enrollment and hire more faculty to meet the growing demand for health professionals. According to Edmonds, healthcare will remain the primary source of employment opportunities in the foreseeable future.
