Tallahassee, FL— Today, CareerSource Florida, in partnership with the Florida Department of Education and FloridaCommerce, hosted the first-ever Workforce Day at the Capitol—a landmark event bringing together leaders in workforce and education to celebrate Florida’s success in workforce education and bold vision for workforce development.
Leaders from across the state, including Florida Department of Commerce Secretary J. Alex Kelly, Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr., Florida Department of Children and Families Secretary Taylor Hatch, Veterans Florida Executive Director Joe Marino, and Florida Chamber of Commerce Foundation Vice President Dr. Keith Richard joined CareerSource Florida President & CEO Adrienne Johnston in highlighting Florida’s progress toward becoming a national leader in workforce education.
In 2019, Governor Ron DeSantis set a goal for Florida to be number one in workforce education by 2030. Thanks to targeted investments and strong partnerships, the state is well on its way—
currently ranking #1 in the nation for both talent development and higher education.
Throughout the day, state college and university presidents, and agency leaders explored new strategies to expand career pathways, connect students to high-demand jobs, and strengthen Florida’s talent pipeline. Workforce leaders also highlighted the state’s achievements, including a 60% increase in registered apprenticeships since 2019 and record-breaking enrollment in career and technical education (CTE) programs.
“The demand for skilled talent has never been greater,” said Adrienne Johnston. “As Florida’s economy continues to grow, evolve, and diversify, our workforce system must not only keep pace but lead the way. We are committed to ensuring every Floridian has the opportunity to succeed and every business has the talent and resources needed to drive our state’s continued prosperity.”
“In 2019, Governor DeSantis’ committed to being number one in workforce education by 2030 and Florida has got its homework done early,” said Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly. “Recognized as number one in higher education and number one in talent development, Florida continues to generate wins, leveraging investments in key industries like manufacturing, aerospace and aviation and life sciences, that fuel high-skill, high-wage job growth – strengthening our economy for current and future job seekers and job creators”.
“Thanks to the leadership of Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida is leading the nation in talent development,” said Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. “Our workforce education programs allow students to earn skills more quickly than a traditional 4-year degree and access high-demand, high-wage jobs. A strong talent pipeline is essential to supporting our economy and continuing to attract new businesses to the state.”
Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, Florida has achieved:
- #1 ranking in the nation for talent development—Backed by more than $10 billion in investments.
- A record-breaking labor force—Surpassing 11.1 million in January 2025.
- Sustained job growth—Adding 139,000 jobs since January 2024, a 1.4% increase.
- Reduced government dependency— Nearly 30,000 Floridians have transitioned off public assistance through targeted workforce initiatives.
The inaugural Workforce Day at the Capitol reaffirmed Florida’s unwavering commitment to building a stronger economy though workforce development, education, and collaboration.
For more information about CareerSource Florida’s workforce programs and services, visit www.careersourceflorida.com.
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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 the Florida Department of Commerce (FloridaCommerce), Florida’s 21 local workforce development boards, and their 117 career centers. The CareerSource Florida Board of Directors 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.