Firm plans $25M expansion, 430 hires

TAMPA — MetLife Inc. says it plans to expand 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.

“We are thankful for MetLife's continued investment in Hillsborough County and the 430 high-wage jobs they are creating for local families,” states Hillsborough County Commissioner Chairwoman Stacy White in a press release. “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.”

According to the release, 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 would like to thank Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation, Enterprise Florida, Inc., the city of Tampa and Hillsborough County for their ongoing partnership,” states Timothy O'Brien, MetLife senior vice president of global corporate services, in the release. “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.”