October is National Manufacturing Month, and Northeast Florida has one of the largest and fastest growing manufacturing regions in the state. Over 38,000 workers are currently employed in the Northeast Florida Advanced Manufacturing sector, which produced a GDP of over $2.3 billion in 2022. In the wake of growing consumer needs and company expansions, employers in the region are consistently adding more positions to an already abundant workforce.
Advanced Manufacturing workers are builders, designers, innovators and visionaries. They are the backbone of Northeast Florida, ensuring that businesses and members of their community have access to top-notch products for travel, work, health care or home use. Whether you are looking to build complex devices with a team of hardworking individuals, design apparatuses and work systems to better your community or ensure that your company manufactures the highest quality machinery available, there is a wealth of opportunities in Northeast Florida for anyone looking to see concrete and tangible results from their work.
Wherever your interest lies, there is a career path where you can utilize your skills and shine. Some possible career paths in Advanced Manufacturing include: Aircraft & Aviation Components, Aerospace & Defense Maintenance & Repair, Metal Products, Machinery and Defense Technologies. Northeast Florida is home to several major manufacturing companies, like Johnson & Johnson Vision, Anheuser-Busch, BAE Systems, Baker Hughes, Ring Power, Medtronic and Northrop Grumman—industry powerhouses looking to add qualified professionals to their teams.
The landscape for Advanced Manufacturing is rapidly changing, and opportunities for new workers to join the industry are more prevalent than ever. Manufacturing companies expect around 11% of their workforce to retire each year, leaving a high number of open positions for well-qualified and motivated individuals to fill. For every manufacturing graduate, an estimated 8 employees are retiring, and high-profile companies are looking to hire workers in a variety of roles.
Job Spotlight: Machine Operator
Machine operators ensure the successful construction, manufacturing and transport of essential products in a variety of different industries. With sharp focus and attention to detail, these highly trained professionals are on the front lines of the Advanced Manufacturing industry, performing work that is specialized, unique and challenging. The annual demand for machine operators in Northeast Florida is approximately 103 employees per year. And as high-profile companies continue to grow, so does the need for skilled machine operators. Apprenticeships and certifications are usually required to work as an industrial machine operator. A variety of programs exist online and in Northeast Florida to make sure you have all the necessary credentials.
Job Spotlight: Industrial Engineer
Industrial engineers are constantly working to improve the efficiency and productivity of industrial systems. Astute, diligent and imaginative, engineering professionals know what needs to be done—and just how to do it. Their focus is both on optimizing already-existing industrial processes and creating new and efficient systems of production. The average salary of an industrial engineer in Northeast Florida is $102,300 annually, with a yearly demand of 62 new employees in the region. Engineering degrees can be obtained from reputable institutions such as Jacksonville University and the University of North Florida, where local companies are always scouting for new talent.
Job Spotlight: Sales Representative
The bridge between manufacturing companies and clients in need of essential products, sales representatives are intuitive and knowledgeable professionals who ensure that client needs are met with speed and efficiency. Sales representatives identify clients, forge relationships, answer questions and deliver an experience that leaves clients satisfied and eager to return. With an average salary of $79,700, the annual demand for sales representatives in Northeast Florida is nearly 100 employees. Sales representative positions often require a post-secondary degree, and these can be obtained at a number of institutions of higher education here in the region.
If you are a builder, innovator or designer at heart, a career in Advanced Manufacturing could be just what you are seeking. Workers in the Advanced Manufacturing sector can see concrete results of their hard work—from aviation, to defense, to essential healthcare products. Their impact on the community is tangible and visible, and there is no better community in which to pursue an Advanced Manufacturing career than right here in Northeast Florida.
