A Workforce Built for What’s Next
Northeast Florida’s labor market reflects the region’s growth story. The Jacksonville region ranks among the nation’s fastest-growing markets, drawing talent nationally while producing homegrown graduates through a connected education-to-employment pipeline. Industries including health care, manufacturing, financial services and logistics have built deep talent pipelines here over decades, creating a labor pool with both scale and specialization.
The Foundation Starts Early
The Jacksonville region is home to Florida’s #1 & #2 school districts – St. Johns and Nassau counties. Across all seven counties, more than 300 CTE programs and over 1,000 career-themed courses connect students to in-demand careers before they graduate — feeding the same industries that employers in the region are actively hiring for.
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Top 15 Florida School Districts
Nassau, St. Johns, Clay counties
300+
CTE Programs
Across all 7 counties
1K+
Career-Themed Courses
Connecting students to employer demand
Institutions Built Around Employer Demand
Eight colleges and universities anchored in JAX produce graduates aligned to the industries growing fastest in Northeast Florida, with specialized tracks in logistics, nursing, aviation and technology alongside four-year programs in business, finance, health and life sciences.
The institutional network spans certificate programs that feed directly into the trades and technical roles all the way up to graduate-level research, giving employers access to talent at every level.
University of Florida
- Graduate programs launch in Downtown Jacksonville this fall, with a permanent $300 million graduate campus planned to support the region's financial services, health sciences and technology sectors.
- Florida Semiconductor Institute coordinating the state’s semiconductor ecosystem through JAX, targeting 10,000+ new high-wage jobs in the region
University of North Florida (UNF)
- Regional research university with top-ranked programs in business, health, computing and engineering
- Developing a workforce pipeline that connects students directly with advanced manufacturing opportunities through engineering program.
Jacksonville University
- Comprehensive university with nationally recognized programs in aviation, nursing, business and marine science
- Strong employer-partnership model across health care, defense and financial services sectors
Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ)
- One of Florida's largest state colleges, with workforce and technical programs in nursing, logistics, IT and the trades
- Dual enrollment and certificate programs create a direct pipeline from high school to regional employers
St. Johns River State College
- Serves Clay, Putnam and St. Johns counties with associate degrees, technical certificates and workforce development programs
- Strong CTE and trades programs feeding regional manufacturing, logistics and health care employers
Keiser University
- Career-focused institution with programs spanning business, criminal justice, nursing and information technology
- Accelerated degree options and workforce-aligned curriculum designed for working adults
Flagler College
- Liberal arts institution with strong programs in business, communication, education and graphic design
- Serves the Jacksonville and St. Augustine corridor with an emphasis on critical thinking and workforce readiness
Edward Waters University
- Florida's only HBCU, offering liberal arts and pre-professional programs in the heart of Jacksonville
- Business, criminal justice, education and sport management programs aligned to regional employer demand
← Scroll to explore all institutions →
Spotlight
Earn Up: JAXUSA's Workforce Development Initiative
Earn Up is JAXUSA’s regional workforce development initiative, connecting students, job seekers and career changers with structured pathways in the region’s target industries, from health care and technology to logistics and the skilled trades. For employers expanding or relocating to JAX, Earn Up is a workforce development partner already at work on their behalf.
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