Amazon confirms additional expansion in Florida with plans to open its newest fulfillment center in Lakeland, kicking the job meter to more than 1,000 full-time jobs to and sticking to their proposed plan to create more than 3,000 jobs in the Sunshine State.
"We look forward to offering more than 1,000 full-time jobs with comprehensive benefits at our new fulfillment centers. We appreciate the state, city and county officials who have worked with us to bring these fulfillment centers to Florida. We’re excited to join the community, bringing great jobs and investment to the area," says Mike Roth, Amazon’s VP of North America operations.
The announcement to open
Amazon’s newest fulfillment center in Lakeland comes less than one month after the company’s
purchase of land in Hillsborough County to begin construction on a fulfillment center that will create more than 1,000 permanent, seasonal and construction job opportunities in Tampa Bay.
On average, Amazon’s fulfillment center jobs pay 30 percent higher wages than traditional retail jobs.
The Lakeland facility will be developed by
Johnson Development Associates, Inc. and will feature more than one million square feet of operational space. The Lakeland team will focus on picking, packing and shipping large items such as kayaks and TVs to customers.
The company additionally offers stock grants for full-time employees as well as healthcare benefits, 401(k), and company stock rewards. Through Career Choice, which pre-pays up to 95 percent of tuition courses related to in-demand fields, employees also have the opportunity to pursue advanced degrees and further grow within the company.
"This announcement signifies that Florida has the infrastructure, workforce and business-friendly climate needed to support companies like Amazon. We are extremely fortunate in Florida to have announced numerous game-changing competitive job projects over the last two years, and we look forward to watching Amazon grow in our state," says Gary Swoope, Secretary of Commerce and President and CEO of Enterprise Florida.
Click here for a list of career opportunities and to learn more about working at an Amazon fulfillment center.
Writer:
Kaye Brown
Sources: Mike Roth, Amazon; Gray Swoope, Florida Department of Commerce, Enterprise Florida
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.