When the Florida Chamber of Commerce asked employers about hiring issues in 2024, nearly 90% said they struggled to find qualified candidates. Challenges with soft skills were among their biggest concerns.
The Chamber's Workforce Needs Study 2.0 calls soft skills "the foundation of employability." Soft skills refer to everything from general communication ability and making eye contact to time management, problem-solving and beefing up one's networking skills.
The issue has vexed employers for years. Lawmakers established the free Florida Ready to Work certification in 2006 that includes a soft skill training program. It's the product of a public-private partnership and includes an initial assessment, instruction and a test to measure gains. More than 300,000 have received the training.
The Chamber study notes that the problem worsened after the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, Florida lawmakers mandated that state universities connect freshmen with career planning and coaching offices and that the students complete a career readiness program.
The Ready to Work certification routinely is part of individual college and university soft skill programs.
As a result, just about every state college and university has a program dedicated to soft skill training aiming to have students workforce ready when they leave the classroom. Following are a few examples from throughout the state.