Florida Businesses Find Graduates More Attractive, Prepared New Hires

Florida Council of 100 released updated survey results today that show Florida businesses are more likely to find qualified in-state talent to fill their vacancies than just a few years ago. New hires are better prepared and trained to do their jobs today. This survey of nearly 600 large, mid-size and small Florida businesses is an update to research that the Council initiated 2018. The survey’s margin of error was 3.8%.

“The progress Florida has shown in workforce development over the past few years is meaningful,” Bob Ward, President and CEO of the Florida Council of 100 said. “Governor DeSantis, Senate President Simpson and House Speaker Sprowls have initiated public policy reforms that are converting fragmented, multi-agency programs into a more equitable and integrated system rooted in performance. The business community recognizes this and applauds the state’s commitment to training a highly skilled workforce.”

The survey results show that only eight percent of Florida businesses have recruited graduates from other states or countries because they cannot find qualified employees in the Sunshine State. That is compared to 14 percent in 2018. Businesses reporting that it is “very difficult” to hire qualified graduates declined from 50% in 2018 to 38% in 2021.

The initial research in 2018 found that almost half of Florida businesses reported needing to spend additional resources training or re-teaching skills that new hires should have already learned in school. In 2021, this number improved significantly. Only one third of companies reported the same need for training in the most recent survey. Florida employers are also finding that the number of new hires proficient in technical skills associated with their jobs rose nearly 10 percentage points since 2018.

The Florida Council of 100 is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization of business leaders, which exists to promote the economic growth of Florida and improve the economic well-being and quality of life of its citizenry. Representing more than 140 companies and more than 1.3 million employees, Council members have achieved a high degree of success and recognition in their business or profession; have demonstrated involvement in Florida public policy issues; and possess the personal qualities of character, personality, and leadership ability.