As we close out our program year at the end of June, we can look back on a year that brought a number of shifts across the broader economic and workforce landscape, from evolving national priorities to changes in global markets and emerging technologies. The rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to shape how employers think about hiring and workforce needs, with many taking a more measured approach as they plan for the future.

Like the businesses we serve, we have taken a thoughtful and comprehensive look at our own operations to ensure we remain responsive and sustainable. While this included some difficult decisions around reorganizing and streamlining our own workforce earlier this year, these actions position CareerSource Northeast Florida (CareerSource NEFL) to better meet the needs of our region moving forward.

We’ve also introduced more multi-employer job fairs at our outlying career centers in St. Johns and Putnam counties to connect companies with job seekers – and we’re exploring other ways to help job seekers in our rural communities. In that vein, we’re focusing on guiding more job seekers to positions in the trades – and supporting the creation of new state certified apprentice programs in the region. There are many opportunities in the manufacturing, maritime and the heating/ventilation/air conditioning (HVAC) industries that don’t require a college degree – with many of those jobs providing annual salaries of $60,000 or more. And, through an apprenticeship, job seekers can earn-as-they-learn a new skill.

In this month’s Workforce Wire, you’ll read about two small businesses that benefitted through our customized training program, and the support we provided to a new apprenticeship program for a nonprofit in Clay County. (And, speaking of Clay County, we moved our Clay County Career Center and corporate office to Loch Rane Boulevard, just off Blanding Boulevard, last month. We believe we’ll better serve our community from this new location -- which will be easier for job seekers to reach, especially those who rely on public transit, while providing the space our team needs to deliver quality service to all of our customers.)

Also, we’ve redesigned the Workforce Wire – which should make it easier to skim through the headlines or dive deeper into the stories we share.

Have a great summer!

Cheryl Taylor

SUCCESS STORIES

Meridian Integrative Wellness Has New Personal Trainer Thanks to Customized Training Help

An employee at Meridian Integrative Wellness in Jacksonville is now a certified personal trainer thanks to customized training funds provided through CareerSource NEFL.

Donna Nguyen, pictured above,was a chiropractic assistant at Meridian, but thanks to a chance meeting between the company’s founder and a business services representative from CareerSource NEFL, she’s now in a new position with the healthcare clinic.

Clay County Nonprofit Adds New Apprenticeship

Operation Lifeline, a nonprofit in Clay County that provides housing assistance and skills training for veterans returning to the civilian population, now has a registered apprenticeship program to help veterans train for jobs in the construction industry – and funding to offset the program.



With assistance from CareerSource NEFL and the Florida Department of Education (FDOE), the nonprofit now has a carpentry apprenticeship registered and approved by the state – the first registered apprenticeship to occur in Clay County since 2020. 

Coleman’s Training Agency Continues to Lead Hundreds from Poverty to Success in the Trades

About 15 years ago, Jacksonville native James Coleman, pictured above, attended a CareerSource Northeast Florida (CareerSource NEFL) Employer Workshop and became a graduate of the program – training which led to the founding of Workforce Industrial Training LLC (WIT).

Today, Coleman’s still helping hundreds of local residents, especially youth living in the city’s most economically-challenged areas, receive the training necessary to receive credentials and find good-paying jobs in Northeast Florida – but with a much broader training umbrella. 

Manpower’s Pacheco Touts Recent Successes at Recruitment Wednesday Events

Since CareerSource NEFL introduced Recruitment Wednesday events at the Southside Career Center on Beach Boulevard, hundreds of employers have taken part – and many local job seekers have found work as a result.

Recently, representatives from the Wounded Warrior Project, Chartwells and Manpower reported hiring several job seekers to fill open positions. 

Businesses that Partner with CareerSource Northeast Florida Succeed.

CAREER CENTER NEWS

Clay Center Moves, New Look at Gateway Center

After nearly 20 years at its previous location in Fleming Island, the office and center, pictured above, reopened at the new location on April 23.



Meanwhile, Gator Investments, the property management firm that owns and operates Gateway Town Center recently completed a one-year renovation project that has created a ‘beachy vibe’ for those visiting the center on Norwood Avenue.

ECONOMIC & EMPLOYMENT HIGHLIGHTS

FloridaCommerce has announced that the unemployment rate for the Jacksonville region was 4.9 percent in April – up slightly from 4.7 percent in March.

Of the 871,479 people counted as the area’s labor force in April , there were 42,355 unemployed residents in the region – down from 44,400 unemployed residents the previous month.

Employer Partner Highlights

St. Johns Ship Building is at a shipyard located in Palatka, Florida, and specializes in the construction, repair, and conversion of steel and aluminum vessels. They build and repair a variety of vessels, including tugboats, barges, offshore wind support vessels, ferries, workboats, and crew transfer vessels (CTVs).

Check out this video to find out more about job opportunities at the company, or visit https://www.stjohnsshipbuilding.com/employment

(BAE Systems) is a full-service shipyard with welding, pipe fitting, mechanical, and fabrication capabilities. The Atlantic coast shipyard has a successful history of vessel repair, maintenance, overhaul, conversion and marine fabrication for domestic, international, commercial and government customers. Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, no job is too big or too small – from tugs and mega yachts to tankers and warships.



Strategically located two miles from the Atlantic Ocean at the intersection of the St. Johns River and Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, BAE Systems' new ship lift complex has increased dry docking capacity by 300 percent, making it the most capable ship repair facility in the Southeastern United States.

For more information on jobs available at BAE, visit https://jobs.baesystems.com/global/en/home.

First Federal Bank is a leading financial institution committed to serving the needs of its customers and communities. With banking locations in northern Florida and coastal South Carolina, First Federal Bank is a community-owned bank that provides a wide range of consumer and commercial banking solutions, services, and loans.

Additionally, SBA and USDA customers are served by lending offices across the Southeast and Midwest, and mortgages are offered nationwide.

With over $3.8 billion in assets, First Federal is headquartered in Lake City, Florida.

For more information, visit https://www.ffbf.com/

For more information about job openings at these and other employers throughout the region, visit Employ Florida at www.employflorida.com – or reach out to our team at info@careersourcenefl.com.

One-Stop Partner Highlight

Past Event Highlights

Upcoming Events

• Thursday, May 28 from 10 a.m. to noon at the St. Johns County Career Center, 525 State Road 16, Suite 109, St. Augustine. Employers include Fifth Third Bank and the St. Johns Sherriff’s Office.
  
• Multi-Employer Recruitment Event – Tuesday, June 9 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Gateway Career Center, 5000 Norwood Avenue, Suite 2, Jacksonville. Employers include Manpower and Cox Media Group.

• Recruitment Wednesdays – Held each Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Southside Career Center, 11268 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville. 
  
• Thursday, June 11 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Virtual Hiring and Education Fair with a focus on Information Technology careers. Job seekers can register at https://qr.fm/tZrepf.
  
• Connecting Veterans to Careers virtual job fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, June 25. Employers and job seekers can register to take part at https://careersourcenortheastflorida.com/event/connecting-veterans-to-careers-june-virtual-fair/.

Quick Links for Employer Services

• CareerSource NEFL Career Center Locations
• Upcoming Events
• Customized Training
• Talent Solutions for Employers
• Apprenticeship Programs
• Partner/Vendor List
• Industry Sectors
• Contact the Business Services Team

We value your insights and welcome your feedback.

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions regarding the content of this newsletter, please reach out to Melissa Terbrueggen, Vice President of Economic Development and Communications, at mterbrueggen@careersourcenefl.com.

We look forward to hearing from you and continuing the conversation.

CareerSource Northeast Florida is an equal opportunity employer/agency. Auxiliary aids and accommodations for people with disabilities are provided. FRS users dial 711.

For program funding details in compliance with the Stevens Amendment, please visit https://careersourcenortheastflorida.com/about