|
President's Report
OCTOBER 2008
|
|
|
Workforce & Economic Development
Workforce Florida Receives International Award
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) this month presented Workforce Florida with a 2008 Excellence Award for Partnership with Education. The award recognizes Workforce Florida for its Employ Florida Banner Centers initiative aimed at improving the skilled workforce in targeted high-value Florida industries.
The IEDC is the world's largest professional organization for economic development professionals, with more than 4,500 members across the United States, as well as in Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and other nations.
"Economic development efforts have long been a keystone in the quest to bolster the economy and improve quality of life in every locality across the country," said Robin Roberts Krieger, IEDC Chair. "As the nation continues to tackle longstanding challenges in the midst of an inhospitable financial climate, these efforts have taken on an even greater significance. With the award, we laud trendsetting organizations like Workforce Florida for leading the charge."
Employ Florida Banner Centers were launched beginning in 2006 in response to the Roadmap to Florida's Future, the state's economic development plan. Banner Centers were created to serve as statewide, go-to resources for cutting-edge training for workers who need to upgrade their skills and businesses seeking a competitive edge through more highly skilled employees. Under the leadership of Governor Charlie Crist, the initiative has expanded to 11 Banner Centers, based at either a Florida community college or university, focused on industries such as digital media, logistics and distribution and homeland security and defense, among others.
A top Workforce Florida initiative, Banner Centers are made possible through collaboration among education, business, economic development and local and state workforce partners. It's the commitment of these partners to cultivating world-class talent that continues to strengthen this initiative.
Banner Center Partners Seeking Ways to Raise the Bar
Following our acceptance of the IEDC Excellence Award, Workforce Florida and the University of South Florida's John Scott Daily Florida Institute of Government held a Banner Center retreat in Tampa. The two-day working session focused on developing strategies for raising the bar, improving linkage among partners and, ultimately, creating a business model for the long-term sustainability of Banner Centers.
I would like to thank the 36 Banner Center leaders and partners who helped to make this session a success, including Workforce Florida Board Members Randy Berridge, Mary Lou Brunell, Don Gugliuzza, George Hauer and Eric Kennedy. Also present were regional workforce board leaders as well as representatives from economic development organizations, public and private educational institutions and business leaders representing many of Florida's targeted sectors. I would also like to thank Workforce Florida Director of Special Projects Tom Shiner for his work in coordinating the retreat.
|
|
Rising to the Challenge
Last month, I shared a few examples of how our state workforce system is rising to the challenge of meeting growing needs for employment and training services and resources for businesses as well as Floridians seeking new or better jobs -- especially during tough economic times such as these. These real-life stories are unfolding every day across the state, though all too often we don't share them. I thought I would take the opportunity again this month, however, to highlight another story of success, thanks to the hard work of South Florida Workforce, under the leadership of Board Chair Edward Margolis, and Rick Beasley, Executive Director.
The Employ Florida Marketplace, the state's comprehensive, online job matching and labor market information tool, is a vital resource for regional workforce boards. It's one of the first tools used to assist people, who are laid off or are about to be laid off, in finding new employment.
When South Florida Workforce learned that a local bus company would no longer serve a route taking tourists from South Florida cruise lines to Central Florida attractions, leading to layoffs for about 70 coach drivers, it sprang into action. The board contacted the new company that was picking up the route and offered its employee recruitment and screening services, for which there is no additional charge to the business since these are federally funded services.
South Florida Workforce also took its Mobile One-Stop Unit, equipped with a bank of computers, to the work site of the company planning the layoffs. The drivers were introduced to the services available to them through the workforce system, including helping them register and search for employment using the Marketplace. With South Florida Workforce's assistance, the new company hired about 40 drivers. As demand for the service has picked up, the company has worked with the board recently to hire more drivers.
More recently, South Florida Workforce took its mobile unit to the site of a bank that was planning to layoff about 120 employees. It worked to get the employees registered on the Marketplace so they could begin searching for new jobs. The board also worked with 12 other employers in Miami Dade County that have about 100 vacancies for which they are seeking people with similar skill sets and experience to conduct a job fair. More than 40 people were interviewed. About 30 may be selected for second interviews, and are expected to find new jobs soon. |
|
Technology
Employ Florida Marketplace Receives a Mini-Makeover
Speaking of the Marketplace, you may have noticed a few improvements to the home page. As we do from time to time, we have freshened up the look with some new photos. A welcome message from Governor Crist is another new addition. If you haven't already, take a moment to check it out. The site, which continues to set usage records, is viewed by 100,000 unique visitors daily on average.
New Web Site Supports Energy Workforce Development
The Florida Energy Workforce Consortium (FEWC), of which Workforce Florida is a founding member, has launched its new Web site, www.getintoenergyflorida.com. The site supports the FEWC's efforts to address Florida's energy workforce needs by enhancing its communications efforts and serving as a central resource for energy workforce information, among other things. Energy is one of Workforce Florida's priority sectors this year for focused strategies and investment in improving talent.
|
|
Telling the Workforce Story
One of the most rewarding aspects of the work we do here at Workforce Florida is sharing the story of how our workforce system is transforming lives through training and career opportunities and strengthening the state's business climate. Periodically, in this report, I'll share with you some of the groups Workforce Florida leaders are taking our message to.
Workforce Florida Board member George Hauer, of Wyle Aerospace Group, participated in a roundtable discussion in Brevard County, as part of a conversation with congressional and legislative leaders. He highlighted our organization's commitment to maintaining a strong aerospace industry by investing in strategies to support our most valuable and competitive asset: a skilled workforce. With the Shuttle to Constellation transition, it is imperative that we work to keep as many highly skilled workers as possible employed in our aerospace industry, or connect them to other high-tech industries in Florida. Workforce Florida participates in the Aerospace Career Development Council, chaired by Lisa Rice, President of the Brevard Workforce Development Board. The council is uniting local, state and national organizations -- both public and private -- to develop workforce solutions to address the historic changes underway in our aerospace sector.
I was delighted to join a panel discussing job creation at the Enterprise Florida Stakeholders' Council meeting. Among other topics of discussion, I proposed that Workforce Florida and Enterprise Florida work more closely together to direct Workforce Florida training funds to aid more Florida companies seeking to get into or expand their international trade activities, thus leading to more job growth. Our team, led by Andra Cornelius, CEcD, Vice President for Business and Workforce Development Opportunities, is working with Enterprise Florida's team, led by Manny Mencia, Senior Vice President of International Trade and Business Development, to explore opportunities.
I also provided an overview of Florida's demand-driven workforce system to leaders from across the state at the Florida Chamber of Commerce's Future of Florida Forum in Orlando, which drew about 200 participants. The forum gave me an opportunity to talk about how Workforce Florida and the entire workforce system are supporting talent development in alignment with economic development priorities and the needs of businesses in our state. The Florida Chamber Foundation shares our vision of making Florida a player in the global economy, and is pursuing that goal with an approach to overall state growth that centers on ensuring a stable foundation for Florida's economy, or what the Chamber calls the Six Pillars of Florida's Economy. They are talent, innovation, infrastructure, business climate, governance and quality of life. At the Orlando meeting, outgoing Florida Chamber Board Chair Susan Story bestowed Workforce Florida Vice President of Workforce Readiness and Performance Steve Urquhart with one of three Chairman's Awards for Distinguished Service. Susan recognized Steve for his work on behalf of Workforce Florida as a member of the Chamber's Innovation Caucus, and specifically as part of the team that created the six pillars concept to convey the key drivers of the Chamber's vision for Florida in 2030.
Earlier this month, Andra addressed the Center for Energy Workforce Development's national conference highlighting best practices in Florida for training people for in-demand occupations such as line technicians as well as efforts underway in rural communities to improve workers' skills in the energy and alternative energy sectors and business opportunities for growth. She also addressed more than 40 site-selection consultants from across the country during an event hosted by Florida's Great Northwest. Her remarks focused on our nationally recognized workforce system's support of economic development through strategic investment in developing a globally competitive workforce.
Quick Response Training Grant (QRT) Program Manager Debbie McMullian recently presented to the Florida Construction Users' Roundtable. She discussed QRT grants, which cover a portion of the costs of customized training for new employees for businesses that are new to Florida or expanding, and highlighted resources available to support building a better skilled construction workforce such as the Employ Florida Banner Center for Construction, based at Santa Fe College.
Meanwhile, Workforce Florida Program Director Jayne Burgess addressed the National Association of Industry-Specific Training Directors in Little Rock, Ark., on Florida's workforce solutions, including QRT, Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) Grants and Banner Centers. IWT grants, a critical resource for the state's small businesses, are available to Florida businesses to reimburse them for some of the expenses for training for their employees.
|
|
Key Dates
Nov. 5: The Manufacturers Association of Florida's Fifth Annual Manufacturing Summit. Jacksonville (Presenters: Chris Hart and Jayne Burgess)
Nov. 6: National Center for Construction and Education Research. Tampa (Presenter: Chris Hart)
Nov. 7: American Water Works Association' Workforce Sustainability Initiative. Washington, D.C. (Presenter: Andra Cornelius, CEcD)
Nov. 14: JEA Leadership Meeting. Jacksonville (Presenter: Jayne Burgess)
Nov. 18-20: Workforce Florida Board of Directors' Meetings. DoubleTree Hotel, Tallahassee
|
|
|
Thank you for your commitment to creating a world-class workforce in Florida.
Sincerely,
Chris Hart IV
President/CEO
Workforce Florida, Inc.
|
|
|
|
Workforce Snapshot
|
Available Workforce:
Up 165,000
Unemployment Rate:
6.6 %
Most Job Growth:
By Metro
Gainesville
1,300 new jobs
Port St. Lucie
100 new jobs
By Sector
Education & Health Services
Up 35,800
Leisure and Hospitality
Up 17,500
Government
Up 8,900
Source: Florida Labor Market Statistics Center (September 2008 data)
|
|
Featured Sector
Aviation & Aerospace
Employed Workforce:
85,900
up 3,463 from December 2006
Largest Sub-sector:
Air transportation, which employs 36.9 percent of all aviation and aerospace industry workers
Average Annual Wage:
$57,086
44 percent more than the state's average wage of $39,762
Fast Facts:
· Airline pilots, co-pilots and flight engineers earn the highest industry average wage, $86.03 per hour, and are required to have only community college credit and/or vocational training. Commercial pilots earn an average $40.18 per hour and need only post-secondary adult vocational training.
· Only two of the top 15 aviation occupations require a bachelor's degree.
Source: Florida Labor Market Statistics Center |
|
|
|
|
