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Florida's Advantages: Education and Workforce
United for Success in Florida
Education, workforce and economic development agencies combine forces in Florida to grow a ready supply of talent.
 EMTs and paramedics in training at South Florida Community College respond to a mock car accident, practicing skills they will use on the job. |
A Singular Focus
By 2014, 15 of the 20 fastest growing jobs in America will require substantial math or science preparation. So says the U.S. Department of Labor, and Florida is wasting no time bringing its workforce up to par.
In June 2009, Workforce Florida and Enterprise Florida announced plans to create a statewide council to strengthen the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills of Florida’s students as a way to address the increasing demand for jobs requiring strong foundations in these areas. Funded by a $580,000 grant from Workforce Florida, the Florida STEM Council will connect education, workforce, business and economic development leaders to identify opportunities to instill the state’s supply of workers with the skills and knowledge needed to support innovation in existing and emerging industries.
The grant will be used to: conduct regional forums to coordinate STEM education efforts throughout the state; provide externships for teachers to learn about STEM curriculum and how to equip students with the skills businesses need most; and create internships that provide firsthand exposure to career opportunities for students studying STEM disciplines.
Workforce Florida Chair Belinda Keiser calls the STEM Council an important asset in Florida’s efforts to cultivate life sciences, aerospace, alternative energy and other industries. “By fostering these skills, which are demanded by today’s marketplace as well as tomorrow’s, we are helping to grow our state’s advantage in the global competition for world-class talent.”
