Why Jacksonville
Dynamic Trends Driving Growth
JACKSONVILLE Why
DYNAMIC TRENDS DRIVING GROWTH Q1 2025
Jacksonville Snapshot ABOUT JACKSONVILLE The Jacksonville MSA in North Florida is comprised of the following counties:
NASSAU
DUVAL
BAKER
CLAY
ST. JOHNS
Duval
Clay St. Johns Nassau Baker
JACKSONVILLE
#4 BEST LARGE CITY TO START A BUSINESS WalletHub, 2025
WITH NEARLY 1.8 Million People, the Jackonsville Region is the 4 th Largest MSA in Florida
Cushman & Wakefield | Why Jacksonville
Contents
OFFICE Q4 2024 JACKSONVILLE
MARKET FUNDAMENTALS
ECONOMY Jacksonville’s unemployment rate was 3.4% at the end of Q4, indicating a 20 basis-point (bp) increase compared to one year ago. Even with this increase, unemployment remained below the national rate of 4.2%. Total nonfarm employment grew by 10,800 jobs or 1.4% year-over-year (YOY). SUPPLY Overall vacancy fell for the second consecutive quarter, closing Q4 down 30 bps quarter-over-quarter (QOQ) at 21.3%. This decrease was attributed to the occupancy of 52,500 square feet (sf) at 9000 Southside Blvd by Bank of America in the Southside Submarket. Jacksonville registered its first quarter of net occupancy gains in seven quarters, with Q4 ending at 88,100 sf bringing the year-to-date (YTD) total to -107,500 sf. Class A vacancy rose by 80 bps YOY, finishing Q4 at 22.6% while Class B fell by 50 bps YOY settling at 20.0%. Development starts remained disciplined in 2024, with just 143,000 sf currently under construction. As existing availabilities are filled, vacancy rates should continue to fall into 2025. DEMAND
21.3% Vacancy Rate -108K YTD Net Absorption, SF $22.71 Asking Rent, PSF (Overall, All Property Classes)
YOY Chg
Outlook
SPACE DEMAND / DELIVERIES
300
0
ECONOMIC INDICATORS
-300
-600 Thousands
YOY Chg
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Related Insights Cushman & Wakefield Research reports analyze economic and commercial real estate activity including supply, demand and pricing trends at the statewide, market and submarket levels. 1 809K Jacksonville Employment 3.4% Jacksonville Unemployment Rate 4.2% United States Unemployment Rate Source:BLS Leasing activity during Q4 totaled 213,300 sf, which marked a 14.4% increase QOQ. This brought the annual total to 1.0 million square feet (msf), down 17.0% from the 2023 total. Class B space accounted for 54.7% of 2024 leasing activity while only making up 48.3% of inventory, illustrating the shift to lower quality space as companies seek cost savings. Suburban submarkets far outpaced CBD leasing activity once again, accounting for 84.3% of new deals signed in 2024. The Deerwood Park submarket led 2024 leasing activity with 329,800 sf, up 50.8% YOY. PRICING Overall asking rents remained stable, growing just 0.1% YOY and settling at $22.71 per square foot (psf) in Q4. The St. John’s County submarket recorded the largest increase in overall rates, finishing Q4 at $31.28 psf, an 11.0% increase YOY. Outlook
-900
2020
2021
Net Absorption, SF Construction Completions, SF
2022
2023
2024
OVERALL VACANCY & ASKING RENT
$23.00
$22.80
$22.60
$22.40
22%
$22.20
20%
$22.00
18%
2020
2021
16%
2022 Asking Rent, $ PSF
2023
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2024
14%
Vacancy Rate
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Migration Hot Spot
Historic Population
Net Migration
Projected Growth
1.8M
1.9M
50k
1.9M
1.8M
3.5 %
1.75M
3.0 %
1.85M
40k
1.7M
2.5 %
1.8M
1.65M
2.0 %
28.5k
1.8M
30k
1.8 %
1.6M
1.5 %
1.6M
25.0k
1.55M
1.0 %
1.75M
20k
1.5M
0.5 %
1.45M
0.0 %
1.7M
10k
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Population
Growth %
Net Migration
Population
#10 IN THE NATION FOR NET MIGRATION FROM 2019 – 2024
DAL 668k
HOU
PHX
TPA
ATL
AUS
ORL
CLT
SA
JAX
MIA
RDU
SRQ
LAS
BNA
LKL
FMY
SJC
CHI
SF
LA
NY
800k
600k
484k
383k
343k
330k
315k
400k
264k
246k
221k
188k
186k
173k
165k
155k
153k
150k
149k
200k
0
−82k
−200k
−170k
−191k
−400k
−427k
−473k
−600k
Cushman & Wakefield | Why Jacksonville
Net Migration (2019 – 2024)
Projected Net Migration (2025 – 2030)
Industry Diversity
66k Total Businesses
64.6% White Collar
19.2% Blue Collar
16.1% Services
Business Summary BY NAICS (%)
HOVER OVER EACH TOPIC TO LEARN MORE
Jacksonville
U.S.
5.0 %
10.0 %
15.0 %
20.0 %
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities
#1 #2 #3 #4 #5
Education & Health Services
Professional & Business Services
Leisure & Hospitality
Government
Financial Activities
Construction
Manufacturing
Other Services
Information
Cushman & Wakefield | Why Jacksonville
Skilled & Growing Workforce
Labor Force
Unemployment Rate
860k
5.0 %
853.7k
840k
4.0 %
3.8 %
820k
3.0 %
2.8 %
800k
2.0 %
784.5k
780k
JACKSONVILLE IS THE 2nd Hottest Job Market in the United States. – Wall Street Journal, 2024
1.0 %
760k
740k
0.0 %
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
IN 2024, Florida Ranked #2 Best Workforces – CNBC
Nearly 51.5% OF THE TOTAL POPULATION IS 25–64 YEARS OLD. ESRI
821k Employed Workers
Cushman & Wakefield | Why Jacksonville
Work Life Balance
Vibrant Night Life
12 STATE & NATIONAL PARK SITES
DOWNTOWN JACKSONVILLE
JACKSONVILLE BEACH
Fort Caroline National Park Timucuan Eco & Historic Preserve Talbot Islands State Parks Hanna Park
Ranked 22nd Best-Performing City in the United States. – Milkin Institute, 2025
RIVERSIDE
SAN MARCO
Five Professional Sports Teams/Events
81°- 61° average annual temperature
Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens ranked 4th Best Zoo in the U.S. USA Today, 2025
Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Iceman
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
Jacksonville Sporting Club
The Players Championship
FOOTBALL
HOCKEY
BASEBALL
SOCCER
GOLF
Cushman & Wakefield | Why Jacksonville
Education
#1 Best State for Higher Education Eight Years in a Row U.S. News & World Report, 2024 2024 Population 25+ BY EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
Top Colleges BY ENROLLMENT 2024
1
Florida State College at Jax 20,530 University of North Florida 16,453 Jacksonville University 3,957 Flagler College 2,688 Edward Waters University 1,175 Tulsa Welding School - Jax 949 Chamberlain University - FL 839 Jones Technical Institute 522 Trinity Baptist College 397 Fortis College – Orange Park 327
4 5 3 6 7 8 2
FLAGLER COLLEGE 3RD BEST COLLEGE IN REGIONAL COLLEGES SOUTH & 14TH BEST VALUE SCHOOL – U.S. News & World Report, 2025
24.6 %
Bachelor's Degree
22.3 %
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH FLORIDA #4 BEST PUBLIC COLLEGE IN FLORIDA – CollegeSimply, 2025
High School Graduate
JACKSONVILLE UNIVERSITY #26 BEST VALUE SCHOOL – U.S. News & World Report, 2025
18.1 %
Some College, No Degree
13.1 %
Graduate/Professional Degree
9 10
10.7 % 4.7 % 2.3 % 4.2 %
Associate Degree
GED/Alternative Credential 9th – 12th Grade, No Diploma
10+ local colleges and higher education institutions preparing graduates with market-demand skills
Less Than 9th Grade
Cushman & Wakefield | Why Jacksonville
Logistics & Transportation
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Rail & Intermodal
Ports
Highways
Metropolitan Areas
Major Airports
Map Legend
SEA
RAIL
SKY
LAND
JAXPORT handles 19,228,316 tons of cargo annually (2023/2024). Channel depth of 40' – 47' can handle the largest container and cruise ships in the world. $675,519,580 in planned capital improvements from 2024 –2029.
CSX Transportation is the 3rd largest railway operator in the country with over 21,000 miles of railway and is headquartered in Jacksonville. JAXPORT is one of 11 seaports in Florida with railway access. The ten mile railway intersects with CSX and Norfolk Southern railways allowing for goods to be easily transferred.
Jacksonville International Airport and Jacksonville Executive at Craig Airport. JAX recorded over 7.6 million travelers throughout 2024, up 2.8% from 2023. JAX is undergoing a $440 million expansion to add six gates and 2,000 parking spaces, set for completion by December 2026.
I-95, I-10, and A1A run through Jacksonville.
Jacksonville is strategically located along the mouth of the St. Johns River acting as an entry point for international container ships. Florida Department of Transportation has allocated $1.4 billion for I-95 expansions planned over the next 5 years.
Cushman & Wakefield | Why Jacksonville
New-to-Market Tenant Demand
Eckart Supply
Hermeus
New York City
HOLON
Warren
Germany England
DHL Supply Chain
Cordyon
Bentonville
Anderson-DuBose
Atlanta
Medius
L Marks
Jacksonville Continues to Draw a Wide Array of New-To-Market Companies Both Nationally and Internationally
Sam's Club Distribution
Cushman & Wakefield | Why Jacksonville
New Development
FUTURE JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS STADIUM
ONE SHIPYARDS PLACE
$260 Million INVESTMENT
$693 Million INVESTMENT
$1.4 Billion INVESTMENT
137k OFFICE SF
200k OFFICE SF
120k+ RETAIL SF
200 HOTEL ROOMS
71,500 EXPANDED CAPACITY
220 NEW FOOD & BEVERAGE POINTS OF SALE
12k RETAIL SF
HEADQUARTERS
200 LUXURY CONDOS
750+ RESIDENTIAL UNITS
125 MARINA SLIPS
170 HOTEL ROOMS
45 NEW ESCALATORS & ELEVATORS
14 NEW RESTROOMS
Public Marina & SUPPORTING BUILDING
26 RESIDENTIAL UNITS
35+ Acres PLUS 1+ MILE OF RIVERWALK & TRAILS & 4 PUBLIC PARKS
New Canopy & Concourse Expansion
Cushman & Wakefield | Why Jacksonville
Office Market Snapshot Q1 2025 21.4 MSF Jacksonville Inventory SUPPLY & DEMAND
CLASS A 11.2 MSF
CLASS B 10.2 MSF
301
2.0M
17
1.0M
95
Class A Spotlight
1
0.0M
NORTHSIDE
NORTHBANK
−1.0M
5.1 MSF Inventory
23.9% Direct Vacancy
$23.98 Direct Rent (FS PSF)
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025 YTD
295
301
Leasing Activity
Construction Completions
Overall Absorption
DEERWOOD PARK
4.2 MSF Inventory
18.9% Direct Vacancy
$24.14 Direct Rent (FS PSF)
DIRECT RENTAL & VACANCY RATES
ARLINGTON
SOUTHBANK NORTHBANK
25 %
WESTSIDE
SOUTHPOINT
SOUTHSIDE
$ 23.00
10
90
20 %
95
3.2 MSF Inventory
18.8% Direct Vacancy
$21.38 Direct Rent (FS PSF)
DEERWOOD PARK
15 %
SOUTHPOINT
$ 22.50
10 %
295
BEACHES
BAYMEADOWS
$ 22.00
5 %
BAYMEADOWS
295
3.1 MSF Inventory
17.0% Direct Vacancy
$20.76 Direct Rent (FS PSF)
0 %
MANDARIN
1Q20
1Q21
1Q22
1Q23
1Q24
1Q25
23
Direct Rental Rate
Overall Vacancy
SOUTHBANK
ORANGE PARK/CLAY COUNTY
17
2.0 MSF Inventory
27.6% Direct Vacancy
$24.02 Direct Rent (FS PSF)
ST. JOHNS COUNTY
1
MANDARIN
301
228
1.3 MSF Inventory
27.6% Direct Vacancy
$22.49 Direct Rent (FS PSF)
95
Cushman & Wakefield | Why Jacksonville
Industrial Market Snapshot Q1 2025
Submarket Spotlight 20.2 MSF Manufacturing 4.4 MSF Office Services/Flex 91.9 MSF Warehouse/Distribution
301
17
95
1
SUPPLY & DEMAND
NORTHSIDE
10.0M
295
8.0M
301
6.0M
4.0M
CBD
2.0M
0.0M
WESTSIDE
10
WESTSIDE
90
95
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025 YTD
SOUTHSIDE
BEACHES
53.5 MSF Inventory
7.7% Direct Vacancy
$6.74 Direct Rent (FS PSF)
Leasing Activity
Construction Completions
Overall Absorption
295
295
NORTHSIDE
23
32.7 MSF Inventory
5.4% Direct Vacancy
$9.21 Direct Rent (FS PSF)
DIRECT RENTAL & VACANCY RATES
17
SOUTHSIDE
$ 10
1
8 %
301
228
19.4 MSF Inventory
4.8% Direct Vacancy
$9.10 Direct Rent (FS PSF)
$ 8
95
6 %
$ 6
ST. JOHNS COUNTY
ORANGE PARK / CLAY COUNTY
4 %
$ 4
CBD
2 %
$ 2
5.7 MSF Inventory
1.1% Direct Vacancy
$10.07 Direct Rent (FS PSF)
$ 0
0 %
1Q20
1Q21
1Q22
1Q23
1Q24
1Q25
Direct Rental Rate
Overall Vacancy
ORANGE PARK/CLAY COUNTY 2.5 MSF Inventory 15.0% Direct Vacancy $7.19
Direct Rent (FS PSF)
Cushman & Wakefield | Why Jacksonville
EFFECTIVE RENT VS STABILIZED OCCUPANCY RATE Multifamily Market Snapshot Q1 2025 113,857 UNITS Jacksonville Inventory
ABSORPTION VS COMPLETIONS
90.8% STABILIZED OCCUPANCY RATE Excludes Properties Still In Their Initial Lease-Up Period
10.0k
96 %
$ 1.5k
8.0k
94 %
6.0k
$ 1.0k
92 %
Effective Rents Increased 19.2% Over the Past Five Years ENDING Q1 2025 AT $1,546 PER UNIT
4.0k
$ 0.5k
90 %
2.0k
0.0k
2,866 Units Under Construction AT END OF Q1 2025
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025 YTD
$ 0.0k
88 %
1Q20
1Q21
1Q22
1Q23
1Q24
1Q25
Effective Rent Per Unit
Stabilized Occupancy Rate
Construction Completions
Overall Net Absorption
31,250 Units Delivered SINCE 2020
Over $8.1 Billion In Sales Over The Past 5 Years WITH A RECORD-SETTING $2.7 BILLION IN 2021
Cushman & Wakefield | Why Jacksonville
Source: CoStar
Retail Market Snapshot 103.1 MSF Total Retail
Q1 2025
SUPPLY & DEMAND
Product Type Spotlight
2M
1.5M
NASSAU
MALLS
1M
6.7 MSF Inventory
5.0% Overall Vacancy
$31.17 Overall Rent (NNN)
500k
POWER CENTERS
0
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025 YTD
DUVAL
4.3 MSF Inventory
7.2% Overall Vacancy
$32.13 Overall Rent (NNN)
Construction Completions
Overall Net Absorption
BAKER
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS
33.8 MSF Inventory
6.5% Overall Vacancy
$26.60 Overall Rent (NNN)
DIRECT RENTAL & VACANCY RATES
CLAY
STRIP CENTERS
$ 30
5.5 %
5.0 %
7.8 MSF Inventory
4.5% Overall Vacancy
$22.44 Overall Rent (NNN)
$ 28
ST JOHNS
4.5 %
$ 26
4.0 %
3.5 %
$ 24
GENERAL RETAIL
3.0 %
$ 22
49.8 MSF Inventory
2.0% Overall Vacancy
$23.58 Overall Rent (NNN)
2.5 %
$ 20
2.0 %
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Direct Rental Rate
Overall Vacancy
OTHER
0.7 MSF Inventory
0.0% Overall Vacancy
$25.47 Overall Rent (NNN)
Cushman & Wakefield | Why Jacksonville
Source: CoStar
Market Lead
SOURCES
TownCharts univstats.com USA Today, 2025 U.S. Census Bureau Wallet Hub Wall Street Journal, 2024 WorldsBestCities.com
Jacksonville Jaguars jacksonville.com JAX Daily Record Lightcast.io MacroTrends.net Milkin Institute, 2025 Moody's Analytics RiversEdge
aaroads.com CollegeEvaluator CollegeSimply CoStar Downtown Investment Authority Enterprise Florida ESRI flgov.com
Authors
©2025 Cushman & Wakefield. All rights reserved. The information contained within this report is gathered from multiple sources believed to be reliable. The information may contain errors or omissions and is presented without any warranty or representation as to its accuracy. Cushman & Wakefield does not claim any ownership rights to the corporate logos featured in Why Orlando and their usage in this research report is strictly for illustrative and informative purposes. Why Orlando is intended for limited distribution.
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