Talent attraction is changing—from how workers envision their careers to the companies looking for new and diverse ideas to remain competitive in an increasingly evolving marketplace. With these changes comes the need for innovative solutions to the hiring and training of prospective employees.
Nearly 900 people have been migrating to Florida daily, even throughout the pandemic. Many come highly educated in their fields, but companies are beginning to realize that might not mean as much as it did a decade ago. A location's robust training infrastructure can be more of an incentive for business expansion than its percentage of people with a college degree—especially in the scope of today's dynamic markets.
This is something that Florida knows better than most. And now, the state is reaping the benefits.
An Opportune Time for Reevaluating the Talent Pipeline
While it's no secret that many are opting to trade their dreary, pandemic-induced anxieties for warm sand and sunny beaches, it might be surprising to learn that the Sunshine State is more than a place to escape the stresses of life.
As Americans begin to reevaluate work, Florida is re-thinking workforce development. In 2019, Governor Ron DeSantis announced Florida's goal to become the top state in workforce education by 2030. Since then, Florida's Department of Education established the Get There Florida program—a workforce development infrastructure that has attracted national attention. The program includes 17 career pathways supported by instruction from 28 state universities and 48 colleges. Such governmental collaboration pairs industry needs with the university system, which is especially useful in an ever-changing technological landscape.
While the Get There Florida initiative has proven pivotal in developing the workforce from the employee side, CareerSource Florida is helping employers match their operational needs with the most qualified candidates. As a policy and investment board composed of business and government leaders, CareerSource maintains connections with over a hundred career and workforce development centers, hosting virtual career fairs, providing labor market data and offering grants to companies for training purposes.
Florida Workers Filling the Gap
When vehicle and stair-lift manufacturer Hamar Mobility started achieving strong sales through the acquisition of several new products, they also realized a need for more workers. After an introduction by the Sarasota County Economic Development Corp, they reached out to CareerSource Florida which helped them find the welders and other skilled workers necessary to meet product demand.
CareerSource also helped Conti Federal Services find the skilled talent they needed when they relocated their headquarters from New Jersey to Orlando in 2021. The company expects to create 40 jobs over the next four years in engineering and construction of federal infrastructure.
To find the success rate for initiatives like these, one need only look at the numbers. For FY'19, 130,061 job seekers were assisted by CareerSource Florida and have now found employment. During the 2019-2020 academic year, over 9,000 students earned industry certifications with Florida technical colleges—many of which were initiated through Get There Florida's one to 20 week programs.
Apart from Florida's existing talent and fruitful career initiatives, many companies recognize the state's attractiveness for relocating workers and their families. Once a candidate finds an employer they'd love to work for, the Sunshine State's 250+ days of sunshine might just be enough of a deciding factor for an employee to migrate south.
Thinking of doing business in Florida? Workforce development is a priority in our state and we'd love to help you find a program to get the most out of your new operations. Contact our team today.
