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Tallahassee, Fla. – The CareerSource Florida network continues to make progress in assisting businesses and Floridians whose work was reduced or eliminated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was reported today to the CareerSource Florida Board of Directors.
CareerSource Florida President and CEO Michelle Dennard told the board during its quarterly meeting that nearly 985,000 Floridians have accessed the CareerSource network since March 1, with more than 30,000 reported to have secured employment. Nearly 23,000 businesses statewide have received recruiting, hiring and training assistance.
The CareerSource Florida network includes the Governor’s principal workforce policy board, which provides policy direction for talent development programs administered by the Department of Economic Opportunity, Florida’s 24 local workforce development boards and their 100 career centers.
“The CareerSource Florida board is grateful to Governor Ron DeSantis for his leadership as he moves the state into Phase 3 of the Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step. Plan for Florida’s recovery, and we sincerely appreciate our local workforce development board partners who have provided an exemplary level of service to Floridians during extraordinary times,” said Board Chairman Kevin Doyle. “These workforce professionals have been innovative and tireless in their efforts to meet increased demand with new technology, virtual services and in-person assistance as soon as safely possible, and it is encouraging to see the economy improving.”
While Florida is seeing positive signs of economic recovery, there remains much to do to help employed Floridians connect to new employment and career opportunities, as 753,000 Floridians are actively seeking a job, according to the latest state employment report.
Florida Department of Education Senior Chancellor of Innovation Eric Hall and Chancellor of the Division of Career and Adult Education Henry Mack, both board members, provided an update on the Department’s emphasis on rapid credentialing programs to assist Floridians affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges with changing or advancing in their careers.
Board members received briefings from partners on collaborative efforts to assist Floridians with securing new or better careers, including an overview of Operation Next, a manufacturing training and credentialing initiative that prepares military personnel for civilian careers in advanced manufacturing.
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Board Finance Council Chairman Arnie Girnun, president of New Horizons South Florida and executive vice president of the Florida Vocational Institute, presented on how credentials can reduce unemployment by providing pathways to meaningful careers. He noted major employers are increasingly looking for job candidates with professional credentials in addition to or in lieu of a four-year degree.
Strategic Policy and Performance Council Chair Brittany Birken, principal adviser at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, briefed the board on the prior day’s council meeting discussions. The council received an overview of the Federal Reserve’s Career Ladder Identifier and Financial Forecaster (CLIFF) Dashboard, which will be customized with state and local data through a new partnership with CareerSource Florida. Additionally, the council received a progress report on two new tools, a Gig Economy Resource Guide and Dashboard developed from research published earlier this year by CareerSource Florida that will be valuable data sources for job seekers, employers and policymakers.
During the meeting, President Dennard introduced CareerSource Florida’s new Vice President of Strategic Policy and Performance Dan McGrew. McGrew comes to CareerSource Florida from Dynamic Workforce Solutions, at which he managed service delivery for several local workforce development boards as regional director for six years. He also has a deep background in education and workforce training, having directed campus operations including recruitment and career services at ITT Technical Institute for several years.
Additional updates were provided to the board by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and the Florida Workforce Development Association.
More information and meeting materials are available at careersourceflorida.com/boardroom.
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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 Department of Economic Opportunity, 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 DEO, 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.