Tallahassee, FL – Today, CareerSource Florida is proud to recognize the significant accomplishments of the state’s workforce system in 2023.

“CareerSource Florida is committed to robust and future-focused work that will continue to connect Floridians experiencing barriers to employment with jobs and career development opportunities,” said CareerSource Florida President and CEO Adrienne Johnston. “We are grateful for the leadership of Governor DeSantis and our dedicated board of directors who lead the way. As we look ahead to 2024, this board, network, and our state partners will continue to make a positive impact on the lives of Floridians and the prosperity of our state.”

2023 Accomplishments of the CareerSource Florida Network Include:

  • Assisting nearly 64,000 Floridians secure employment, including more than 3,700 military veterans.
  • Transitioning more than 46,000 individuals from public assistance.
  • Providing more than 366,000 recruiting, hiring, and training services to Employ Florida and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) participants.
  • Helping more than 50,000 businesses find and retain talent.
  • Increasing average annual wage by more than $18,000 for WIOA program participants. 
  • Awarding $2.1 million in Incumbent Worker Training grants to 87 businesses, with an emphasis on small businesses, projected to train more than 1,600 workers.
  • Awarding $7.4 million in Quick Response Training grants to 24 businesses, projected to train more than 2,000 new employees.

Drove Statewide Improvements Through Florida’s Workforce System Transformation Plan

The Florida Workforce System Transformation Plan aligns with the 2021 landmark REACH Act, which called for a reduction in the number of local workforce development boards in order to improve consistency and maximize resources. Stakeholder input revealed an opportunity to enhance and strengthen the entire workforce system.

  • The CareerSource Florida board approved the plan in February 2023, focused on three pillars: alignment and consolidation, system-wide improvements, and regional planning.
    • Created and distributed the Alignment and Consolidation Checklist for the transforming boards to use as a tool for completing identified tasks with a timeline included.
    • Conducted bi-weekly virtual and in-person meetings with the boards and their respective Chief Local Elected Officials experiencing the transformation.
    • Provided monthly training and technical assistance sessions for the transforming boards.
  • The CareerSource Florida board approved four policies to support the Florida Workforce System Transformation Plan, including:
    • Board Governance and Leadership Policy
    • Certification of Local Workforce Development Areas and Local Workforce Development Boards
    • Regional Planning Areas
    • Statewide Standardization of Tools and Services
  • The CareerSource Florida board defined the requirements for implementing Education and Industry Consortiums throughout the state in compliance with SB 240. These consortiums will ensure that industry and education leaders are convening quarterly to ensure that talent pipelines are being developed intentionally to support Florida’s growing economy and are required to be implemented by January 1, 2024.

Established the Master Credentials List

In a milestone achievement, Florida created its first Master Credentials List, which helps ensure the state’s education system aligns with the projected talent needs of industries. The list is a comprehensive roster of state-approved degree and non-degree credentials that prepare Floridians for in-demand occupations.

  • The Master Credentials List:
    • Serves as a public and transparent inventory of state-approved credentials of value.
    • Directs the use of federal and state funds for workforce education and training programs that lead to approved credentials of value.
    • Guides workforce education and training programs by informing the public of the credentials that have value in the current or future job market.
  • In 2023, more than 2,060 credentials were added to the state’s 2023-2024 Master Credentials List.
    • Criteria developed to evaluate credentials for Florida’s Master Credentials List include wages, demand, and connections or sequencing to other high-value credentials.
  • The Credentials Review Committee commissioned a study to explore the career movement of credential holders and how they progressed to next-level jobs by stacking credentials.
    • The Committee will continue to make advancements in identifying Credentials of Value by further exploring credential sequencing.
    • The Committee is also working to identify credentials necessary for emerging industries and recognize those credentials on the state Master Credentials List in advance of labor market data signaling the demand.

Transformed Talent Pipelines with Apprenticeships

The CareerSource Florida network continues to promote innovative and effective workforce training solutions, including apprenticeships.

  • During the 2022 – 2023 program year:
    • Total of 19,605 active apprentices and pre-apprentices, representing a 14% increase over the previous year.
    • Total of 303 active apprenticeship programs, including 36 newly registered programs.
    • Total of 120 apprenticeable occupations, representing a 21% increase over the previous year.
    • Apprentices who completed their program and received an apprenticeship certificate of completion earned an average exit wage of $25.70 per hour, or $53,642 annually. This is an increase of $4,013 over the previous year.
  • The CareerSource Florida Board of Directors approved a new Registered Apprenticeship Policy that outlines the framework and guidelines for local workforce development boards to engage in activities to support quantitative outcomes for high-quality Registered Apprenticeships that align with industry needs, promote economic development and lead to high wages for apprentices.
  • The CareerSource Florida Board of Directors allocated $1.75 million to bolster apprenticeship expansion by supporting an Apprenticeship Navigator at each of the 24 local workforce development boards. These apprenticeship experts work closely with businesses to determine how registered apprenticeship programs can seamlessly fit into their talent development strategies and support their unique workforce needs, while helping to connect interested job seekers with apprenticeships.
  • In collaboration with the Florida Department of Education, Apprenticeship Navigators promoted registered apprenticeships through community outreach and participation in Apprenticeship Accelerators.
    • During the program year, 12 apprenticeship accelerators were hosted throughout the state to teach local businesses about the value of registered apprenticeships and offer support to launch new apprenticeship programs across a variety of industry sectors, including information technology, healthcare, supply chain, aviation, semiconductor, and manufacturing.

Advanced Healthcare Workforce Through the Florida Healthcare Training Initiative

CareerSource Florida recognized the critical role of well-trained healthcare professionals and addressed this need, in part, through the new Florida Healthcare Training Initiative.

  • In June, the CareerSource Florida Board of Directors approved $2.75 million for the Florida Healthcare Training Initiative. The initiative is helping to remove barriers to enrollment in healthcare training and increase credential attainment in healthcare occupations with the greatest need, allowing more individuals to enter into healthcare roles and receive support to continue career pathways in healthcare.
  • The initiative promotes high-quality healthcare training programs that cover a range of occupations such as nursing, medical coding, medical assisting, surgical technology, phlebotomy, and pharmacy technicians. Participants receive individualized wrap-around support throughout their training journey, including mentorship, transportation assistance, affordable healthcare, and other customized assistance.
  • CareerSource Northeast Florida, serving Nassau, Duval, Baker, Clay, St. Johns, and Putnam counties; CareerSource Broward; CareerSource Okaloosa Walton; and CareerSource Escarosa, serving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties are the first pilot partners for this new initiative.

Bridged Gaps Between Employment Opportunities for Floridians Through Hope Florida

Spearheaded by First Lady Casey DeSantis, Hope Florida provides a comprehensive approach to addressing poverty and promoting economic mobility by utilizing Hope Navigators to guide Floridians on an individualized path to prosperity, economic self-sufficiency, and hope.

  • In June, the CareerSource Florida board approved $2.5 million for soft skills training and services to immediately serve Hope Florida clients in preparation for additional technical skills training for in-demand jobs.
  • The board also approved $1.75 million for Hope Navigators at all local workforce development boards to connect Hope Florida participants with opportunities for employment and training to address their unique needs and skills.

Expanded Aerospace Workforce Development Through the Florida Atlantic Workforce Alliance

Focused on a 180-mile, six-county stretch on Florida’s east coast from Flagler County to Martin County, this effort unites and aligns workforce development, education, economic development, and employers to meet growing industry demands within the aviation sector.

  • Florida is investing more than $27 million, including $9 million in WIOA funding through CareerSource Florida, to support the Alliance’s postsecondary educational providers and CareerSource Florida network partners as they develop robust training programs in partnership with industry, local public-school districts, and economic development organizations.
  • In May, the Alliance hosted its first consortium meeting with more than 150 businesses and community stakeholders, including representatives from workforce, education, community, and economic development, along with employers from each industry.

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ABOUT CAREERSOURCE FLORIDA
CareerSource Florida, with its business-led board of directors, provides policy direction for talent development programs administered by FloridaCommerce, Florida’s 24 local workforce development boards and their 100 career centers. The CareerSource Florida State Board serves as the Governor’s principal workforce policy and investment board, working in partnership with FloridaCommerce, which is responsible for the state workforce system’s fiscal and administrative affairs, and local workforce development boards that serve Florida’s businesses and career seekers. Together, the CareerSource Florida network connects employers with qualified, skilled talent and Floridians with employment and career development opportunities to achieve economic prosperity. Learn more at careersourceflorida.com.

Category: GENERAL
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