Cargo activity through the Port of Jacksonville generates 206,927 jobs in Florida and supports nearly $33 billion in annual economic output for the region and state, according to a newly released study.
| The study, citing double-digit growth in the port’s total statewide job impact over the last five years, was conducted by Martin Associates, a widely recognized maritime research firm. In the Jacksonville area, the study concludes that 28,194 people are employed in port-dependent positions—direct, indirect, and induced jobs relying on the port. Statewide, cargo activity through Jacksonville’s seaport supports 206,927 jobs, a nearly 50 percent increase over a previous study conducted in 2018. The port’s total economic value of $33 billion has also increased by 6 percent during this time. Port-dependent jobs pay an average annual salary of $76,356, well above the state of Florida average salary for all occupations of $55,980. “The investment in port infrastructure and the initiation of the St. Johns River Deepening Project has resulted in job growth over the 2018-2023 period,” the report concluded. “This type of investment has led to increased diversification of the markets and cargoes served by JAXPORT, in turn providing high-paying jobs in the local community and generating state and local tax revenue.” The study concludes that in 2023, cargo activity at Jacksonville’s seaport generated $2.9 billion in business revenue, including $864.2 million in wages, $966.8 million in business purchases and $325 million in state and local taxes. |
Cruise Industry’s Economic Impact in Northeast Florida
The cruise industry in Jacksonville is responsible for more than 870 jobs and more than $211 million in annual economic impact for Northeast Florida, according to Martin Associates.
Sixty percent of travelers cited easy access to the port as the primary reason for cruising out of Jacksonville, and more than three-quarters of passengers surveyed said they would be “very likely” to return to Jacksonville for a future vacation.
Jacksonville’s cruise industry generates more than 20,000 local hotel night stays annually, according to data collected from the study. Passengers hail from 40 states, the District of Columbia and overseas.
Manufacturing and Distribution
The Time is Now: A Manufacturing and Distribution Opportunity for Florida