Lowes has announced it will be hiring nearly 550 new employees across its Jacksonville stores during the company’s national hiring day on Tuesday.
Nationwide, Lowes plans to hire more than 50,000 seasonal, part-time and full-time workers such as cashiers, drivers, stockers and receivers.
No reservation or resumes are required for Lowes' National Hiring Day, but job seekers can RSVP and learn more about the event and career opportunities at Lowe’s by visiting corporate.lowes.com/national-hiring-day.
As more people start traveling again, service providers at the Jacksonville International Airport are also hiring.
The airport is hosting a job fair on May 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Jacksonville Airport in the ballroom at 2021 Dixie Clipper Drive, Jacksonville, 32218.
More than 20 companies ranging from American Airlines and Fed Ex to Hertz and DoubleTree will be on hand.
“As air travel continues to increase, companies are staffing up to meet the demands of passengers,” Jacksonville Aviation Authority CEO Mark VanLoh said in an email sent to WJCT News. “This job fair offers those looking for an exciting airport career the opportunity to interview with businesses operating at JAX.”
The jobs will run a wide gamut from ramp agents, TSA security officers and rental car associates to aircraft mechanics, restaurant bartenders/servers and baggage handlers.
The hiring comes as the U.S. economy expanded at a rapid pace in the first three months of the year, setting the stage for what's expected to be the strongest annual growth in nearly four decades.
According to the Commerce Department, the economy grew at an annual rate of 6.4% between January and March, as millions of Americans got vaccinated against COVID-19 and the federal government spent trillions of dollars to counteract the effects of the pandemic recession.
"The $1,400 paychecks that hit consumer mailboxes in March made a difference," said Nela Richardson, chief economist at the payroll processing company ADP.
Federal relief payments coincided with a nationwide vaccination campaign. More than 140 million Americans have so far received at least one shot.
"I think that's made a huge impact on confidence in the economy as things are starting to re-open and more people are inoculated against this disease," Richardson said.
The tourism and entertainment industries are hoping for a recovery during the spring and summer, as pandemic restrictions are eased and more people feel comfortable doing things that were off-limits for much of the past year.
"You have a lot of people with some pretty robust savings, itching to get back to former pastimes like going to a movie or traveling," Richardson said. "Those hard-hit industries have the most to gain from the safe reopening of the U.S. economy."
In Jacksonville, the entertainment industry is also showing signs of recovery with some full capacity events resuming at places like Daily's Place and the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.
In another sign of the local tourism and entertainment industry bouncing back, local sports teams are also taking to the fields again. The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp will open their season Tuesday at home after Minor League Baseball canceled the 2020 season. Although, the team plans to start the season with a reduced capacity of 45%.
The Jacksonville Jaguars and the Jacksonville Sharks have also announced they expect to open their seasons this summer with full capacity crowds.
Bill Bortzfield can be reached at bbortzfield@wjct.org or on Twitter at @BortzInJax.
