Welcome to the latest edition of New to Lakeland, where we’ll share content aimed at newcomers to Lakeland to help them get to know this great city. If you know someone who should be receiving this, forward this email their way to encourage them to sign up.
Meet Lakeland’s top employers and industries
The who’s who and what’s what of Lakeland’s economy: Meet the top employers and industries
Lakeland continues to thrive thanks to these industries. | Photo submitted by Reader Bob K.
More than 339,300 people(and thousands of businesses) contribute to the Lakeland metro area’s economy. But have you ever wondered about Swan City’s heaviest hitters?
Consider this Lakeland Business 101 — your guide to five of our region’s 10 key industries and 15 major employers.
Aviation
Thanks to Lakeland Linder International Airport, more than 60 enterprises utilize Lakeland as their flight zone. From the NOAA Hurricane Hunters to Amazon Air, these businesses have partnered with our airport to facilitate travel needs.
Medical device packaging
Lakeland continues to be one of the leading innovators in device packaging and sterilization. Avantor (formerly MESM) and SteriPack are driving job generation and growth opportunities for the city.
Supply chain and logistics
In 2020, Amazon signed a lease for a 700,000-sqft space in Lakeland, creating ~500 jobs at its 1 million-sqft facility in Auburndale. Pepsi, Rooms To Go, and Walmart have also opened up area warehouses, bringing industry jobs to over 12,500.
The major players
Publix Headquarters
|
Photo by @publix
Whether you’re job hunting (or just “casually prospecting”), here are 15 major employers — all that employ more than 400 workers on average, courtesy of the LEDC.
Publix
8,000+ employees | Manufacturing and Distribution | Search jobs
Publix remains the largest employee-owned grocery chain in the United States. It is Lakeland’s largest private employer, and is one of the 10 largest-volume supermarket chains in the country.
Lakeland Regional Health
6,000+ employees | Healthcare | Search jobs
Lakeland Regional Health serves as the fifth largest hospital in Florida. The Graduate Medical Education program brought in an additional 76 medical residents in July 2023.
GEICO
3,800 employees | Insurance | Search jobs
GEICO continues to provide career opportunities for locals, giving us more than one reason to love that iconic green gecko.
A. I’m happy with my current career. B. I’m casually prospecting for new opportunities. C. I’m actively looking for employment options. D. I’m currently unemployed.
