MetLife to Expand in Tampa, Add 430 Additional High-Wage Jobs by 2019
November 3, 2017
TAMPA, Fla. – (Nov. 3, 2017) – The Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation today announced that MetLife, Inc., is expanding its Tampa operations, adding 430 additional, high-wage jobs at its existing campus and investing $25 million in the project. One of the world’s leading financial services companies, MetLife will hire for a variety of new positions that will pay an average of 150% of Hillsborough County’s annual private sector wage.
MetLife first established operations in Tampa over four decades ago and currently employs more than 1,500 at its Tampa campus. Providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to help its individual and institutional customers, MetLife holds leading market positions in the United States, Japan, Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
“We are thankful for MetLife’s continued investment in Hillsborough County and the 430 high-wage jobs they are creating for local families,” said Stacy White, chairman of the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners. “With this significant expansion, Hillsborough County strengthens its position as the preferred location in the Southeast for the world’s leading financial and professional services firms.”
The project was made possible through strong partnerships between Enterprise Florida, the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation, Hillsborough County, the City of Tampa and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.
“Tampa has earned an international reputation for the excellence of its financial and professional services workforce, and MetLife’s success here is a key reason why,” said Mayor Bob Buckhorn, City of Tampa. “We deeply appreciate MetLife’s decision to expand again in our market, and look forward to supporting their continued success.”
“We would like to thank Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation, Enterprise Florida, Inc., the city of Tampa and Hillsborough County for their ongoing partnership,” said Timothy O’Brien, MetLife senior vice president of Global Corporate Services. “MetLife is pleased to be deepening its relationship in the city of Tampa, and we are confident that the wide array of resources and talent that the state of Florida affords will contribute significantly to our ongoing success.”
MetLife joins a growing roster of multinational companies that have expanded or recently established major operations in Tampa and Hillsborough County, including Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Johnson & Johnson, Ashley Furniture Industries, TransferWise and Willis Towers Watson.
“MetLife’s choice to strengthen its operations in Tampa reflects its faith in our local workforce and confidence in its ability to attract top talent here,” said Alan F. List, MD, chairman of the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation and president and CEO of Moffitt Cancer Center. “Companies like MetLife, Citi and DTCC continue to invest in Tampa and Hillsborough County because this community offers all the necessary ingredients their global operations require to thrive.”
Nearly one in four business and information services firms in Florida have a presence in Tampa Bay, including some of the world’s leading corporations in banking, finance, and insurance.
Florida’s diversified economic structure has enabled it to be a global player in the provision of high value-added services in finance, insurance, architecture, accounting, consulting, engineering, and more. Florida’s proximity to and cultural connections with Latin America have also helped make Florida an international banking center with booming international trade, and leading location for shared services. In total, Florida is home to nearly 130,000 financial and professional services firms and their approximately 900,000 employees.
Interested candidates are encouraged to visit https://jobs.metlife.com/ for more information about available positions.
***
Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation (EDC) is the lead designated economic development agency for Hillsborough County and the cities of Tampa, Plant City and Temple Terrace. Established in 2009 as a partnership between the public sector and private corporate investors, the EDC works to develop and sustain a thriving local economy through the attraction, retention and expansion of high-wage jobs and capital investment within targeted industry sectors, including Corporate Headquarters, Financial and Shared Services, Life Sciences, Defense and Security, and Manufacturing.
The EDC exists because of the generous support of more than 100 corporations, Hillsborough County, and the cities of Tampa, Plant City and Temple Terrace.
Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI) is a partnership between Florida’s businesses and government leaders and is the principal economic development organization for Florida. EFI facilitates job growth for Florida businesses through recruitment and retention, international trade and exporting, promotion of sporting events, and capital funding programs to assist small and minority businesses.
Hillsborough County, Florida is the commercial and industrial heart of Tampa Bay. The fourth largest county in the state of Florida, Hillsborough is home to over 1.3 million residents, with thousands more arriving each year. Its strength is drawn from being one of the most advanced economies and having one of the most educated workforces in the state. Hillsborough County and its three municipalities –Tampa, Plant City, and Temple Terrace – offer a competitive business environment and an abundance of regional assets including Port Tampa Bay, Tampa International Airport, and MacDill Air Force Base. County government is focused on creating economic prosperity for residents and businesses throughout the area.
###
