At the end of last week, Lightcast released the 2023 Talent Attraction Scorecard, ranking Florida as the #1 state in the nation for attracting and developing a talented workforce for the second year in a row. The Talent Attraction Scorecard evaluates states based on job growth, education attainment, regional competitiveness and migration data.
“It is no surprise that Lightcast has named Florida the number one state for talent attraction for two consecutive years,” said Gov. Ron DeSantis. “Florida’s record investments in workforce education, including expanding apprenticeship and on-the-job training programs in high-demand professions, have elevated business and industry through strong workforce development.”
In the Lightcast Talent Attraction Scorecard, Florida also earned high rankings in multiple categories including:
• #2 for migration;
• #2 for competitive effect;
• #4 for skilled job growth; and
• #5 for overall job growth.
“Florida continues to be a model for the nation under Governor DeSantis’ leadership with workforce development strategies that meet job seekers and job creators where they are,” said Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly. “Florida’s proactive approach to economic development and key investments in workforce training move our nation-leading economy forward.”
“This achievement is due to Governor DeSantis’ unwavering commitment to growing Florida’s workforce education programs,” said Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. “ Florida is continuing to demonstrate that our strategic approach towards workforce education and talent retention is working.”
“Under Governor Desantis’ leadership, Florida continues to thrive and it is not a surprise that our state has been ranked #1 again for attracting and developing a skilled workforce,” said CareerSource Florida President and CEO Adrienne Johnston. “In Florida, we are training our workforce in areas where businesses need to grow, creating forward momentum for key industries to grow for future generations of Floridians.”
Additionally, Florida ranked #14 for education attainment.
“This is a direct result of Governor DeSantis’ commitment to aligning workforce education programs with employers’ needs in Florida through strategic investments and a focus on building a skilled workforce that meets demand,” the governor’s office insisted.
Also included in the scorecard were rankings for the top-scoring large counties in the country, of which Florida counties held three of the top ten spots. Hillsborough County ranked #7 overall, including ranking #4 for competitive effect. Lee County ranked #8 overall, including ranking #1 in the nation for migration. Polk County ranked #9 overall, earning rankings as #4 for migration and #21 in the country for job growth.
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