A potential of 150,000 new trade and logistics jobs may be created over the next five years in Florida, according to the Florida Chamber Foundation’s Florida Trade and Logistics Study 2.0 (TL2.0). Building on that trend, the study proposes developing a trade, logistics and manufacturing talent pipeline, creating Centers of Excellence and a merchant marine training institute.
The study cites Florida’s geographic location, a shift in the U.S. population to the south, the Panama Canal widening, the resurgence of Latin American and Caribbean trade and advancements in logistics practices as primary reasons for this job growth.
The Florida Chamber Foundation credits its first Florida Trade and Logistics Study released in 2010 with the following results:
- 23,000 new trade and logistics jobs created from 2010-2012,
- 9,000 new manufacturing jobs,
- $66 billion in goods exported by Florida companies (an increase of $11 billion), and
- Establishing a friendlier business climate through passage of bills related to trade, logistics and manufacturing.
