JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville has been named one of five North American “Cities to Watch” by Oxford Economics, gaining recognition for its economic and employment growth as city and business leaders pursue a goal of placing Jacksonville among the world’s top 50 smaller global cities.
Oxford Economics included Jacksonville alongside Boise, Idaho; Durham, North Carolina; San Antonio, Texas; and Edmonton, Alberta, in its 2026 Global Cities Index.
Unlike the index’s numerical rankings, the Cities to Watch designation is a curated selection of metropolitan areas. Oxford Economics highlighted the five cities for productivity gains and employment growth despite broader economic pressures.
The annual Global Cities Index evaluates 1,000 cities worldwide using measures covering economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance.
Jacksonville ranked 97th worldwide in 2026 when compared with cities with populations below 4 million, according to information released by the city. That represents an improvement from 119th in 2025.
Local leaders have set a goal of reaching the top 50 in that population category by 2032.
The recognition comes shortly after another analysis identified Jacksonville as one of the country’s fastest-growing major metropolitan areas. LendingTree ranked Jacksonville No. 7 among America’s biggest boomtowns and found its workforce grew 5.6% from 2023 to 2024, the highest rate among the 50 largest U.S. metros included in that study.
Oxford Economics pointed to Jacksonville’s increasingly diverse economy, including finance, technology, fintech and professional business services.
Technology accounted for 26% of Jacksonville’s GDP growth in 2025, according to the report. Jacksonville also placed among the top 20 U.S. metropolitan areas for GDP per job.
The report forecasts continued above-average employment growth, including gains in the technology and health care sectors. Income and consumer spending are projected to grow about 2.9% annually, while Jacksonville’s population is forecast to increase approximately 1% per year through 2030.
Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan said the recognition follows recent investments and economic development efforts across the city.
“We already know what’s happening in this city — the investment, the growth, the opportunity we’re building in downtown and every neighborhood,” Deegan said. “It’s wonderful to see the rest of the world beginning to recognize it too.”
Jacksonville Civic Council President and CEO Dennis Whittle said the organization has identified the Global Cities Index as one set of metrics that local government, businesses, nonprofits and philanthropic organizations can use to measure the city’s progress.
The index also considers factors beyond economic performance, including education and workforce characteristics, residents’ quality of life, environmental conditions and governance.