The newest edition of the CareerSource Northeast Florida (CareerSource NEFL) Workforce Wire is here: a newsletter tailored specifically for our valued business and community partners that’s designed to keep you informed, inspired and connected with workforce developments and successes across Northeast Florida.
What’s Inside This Edition?
The third edition of Workforce Wire highlights powerful stories and critical insights into the workforce landscape of our six-county region. Here are some featured stories you won’t want to miss:
- President’s Message: President & CEO Cheryl Taylor introduces CareerSource NEFL’s new 2025–2030 Strategic Plan and shares how the organization is shifting from compliance-driven processes to impact-driven leadership — while reaffirming its commitment to service excellence for job seekers and business partners.
- Customized Training Success: Learn how Barnabas Center in Fernandina Beach leveraged the Customized Training program to train employees in basic sign language — building on last year’s conversational Spanish training — to better communicate with customers across language barriers. Plus, see how MetroPower is growing its electrical apprenticeship program from 5 apprentices to 35, with first-year apprentice Breanna Else competing at the national SkillsUSA conference.
- Program Highlight: Read about Nicole Mobley’s inspiring journey from losing her job during the 2008 recession to earning her CDL through a CareerSource NEFL grant — and ultimately being recognized as an Ultimate CEO by the Jacksonville Business Journal and CEO of T & N Xpress, a trucking, logistics and warehousing company.
- Job Seeker Success Stories: Hear from Racheal Neal, who pivoted to a trucking career after 20 years at Flowers Bakery; Jacqueline Edwards, a stay-at-home mom who landed a role at VyStar Credit Union through a Recruitment Wednesday event; and Donna Roberts, a domestic violence survivor who rebuilt her career in banking with help from CareerSource NEFL and community partners.
- Partner Highlight: Discover how NCBA’s Senior Community Service Employment Program supports adults 55 and older at the Gateway Career Center, helping participants reenter the workforce through job training and transition services.
- Economic Snapshot: Access current regional employment data, including the Jacksonville region’s unemployment rate of 4.7% in December 2025 and the industries driving job growth — led by Education and Health Services with 9,300 new positions over the year.
- Event Highlights: Recaps from the Paychecks for Patriots hiring fair, UF Health St. Johns’ surgical technologist apprenticeship graduation, the Kroger employee transition event and other impactful community engagements.
- Upcoming Events: Find out about upcoming recruitment opportunities, including Recruitment Wednesdays, military spouse employment events and the monthly virtual job fair on March 12.
Why Workforce Wire?
Workforce Wire isn’t just another newsletter — it’s your essential tool to stay connected with the pulse of the Northeast Florida workforce community. Each edition is carefully crafted to deliver:
- Valuable insights and statistics on employment trends.
- Inspirational success stories from local businesses and job seekers.
- Information on upcoming events, training programs, and partnership opportunities.
Stay Connected
As a partner of CareerSource NEFL, you play a pivotal role in shaping our regional workforce. We encourage you to explore Workforce Wire, share it within your networks, and leverage its insights to help drive collective success across Northeast Florida.