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A Sweet Spot for Hiring Top Talent
Northeast Florida provides a younger demographic for prospective employers, with training opportunities throughout the region.
Northeast Florida is home to two state colleges: Florida State College at Jacksonville and St. Johns River State College. Both offer degree and training programs at a number of levels at locations throughout the region.
The largest, FSCJ, provides specific training for companies and important industries in Northeast Florida, based on input from local businesses.
“Our advisory boards are giving us direction on what they want to have,” says FSCJ Provost John Wall.
For example, FSCJ offers a bachelor’s degree in logistics to support the area’s burgeoning logistics industry. Students have opportunities to earn industry certifications to validate their expertise and advance their careers.
In partnership with corporations CSX and Georgia-Pacific, FSCJ offers an associate degree in engineering technology to train students in advanced manufacturing technology. The college is also working with local hospitals to train students for careers as registered respiratory therapists.
Besides providing opportunities for college students, FSCJ has a cybersecurity program in two Jacksonville high schools and has extended its advanced manufacturing program to students at Englewood High School.
| Higher Education Enrollment | |
| Florida State College at Jacksonville | 37,751 |
| University of North Florida | 15,944 |
| St. Johns River State College | 7,765 |
| Jacksonville University | 4,060 |
| Flagler College | 2,501 |
| Edward Waters College | 945 |
The college works with Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, a Jacksonville company that makes contact lenses, in the Englewood program. Students have the opportunity for paid internships at the company and can begin taking classes toward the degree in engineering technology while still in high school.
Johnson & Johnson sees the program not only potentially helping the company but also helping the community advance education in the science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, fields.
The program “is our approach to develop an industry-led education program, ultimately incentivizing local technology companies to invest in skilled talent from right here in our local community,” says Abe Alangadan, senior project portfolio manager for J&J Vision.
Also in Jacksonville, Saint Leo University offers traditional courses and online learning options at Mayport Naval Station and Oakleaf Town Center.
