Opinion: Apprentice Florida is critical in preparing tomorrow’s workforce today

Opinion: Apprentice Florida is critical in preparing tomorrow’s workforce today (Courtesy of the Tallahassee Democrat) — In Florida’s ever-growing job market, the demand for skilled workers is outpacing the supply – a challenge Gov. Ron DeSantis is committed to addressing. Florida is projected to gain 4 million new residents by 2030, with an anticipated 2 million new jobs, and he is focused on preparing our workforce to meet this demand.
This economic explosion brings with it rapid technological advancement across all industries. Employers must innovate to train today’s workforce for tomorrow’s jobs.
Fortunately, our state has been paving the way for businesses to tap into a proven model as a new way to train their talent. Apprentice Florida – a joint effort between CareerSource Florida, Florida Commerce, and the Florida Department of Education – helps businesses establish apprenticeships and educates individuals about pursuing careers through apprenticeships.
Under Gov. DeSantis’s leadership, Florida has made significant investments in expanding registered apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships since 2019, allocating $85 million through the Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant. The Florida Department of Education has awarded over 300 proposals, serving over 15,000 participants in in-demand occupations.
Florida’s registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs have demonstrated remarkable growth, with a 53% increase in the number of programs, now comprising 397 registered programs — a record 60% increase with over 22,444 registered apprentices and pre-apprentices.
In Florida, several targeted sectors are benefiting significantly from apprenticeship programs. As apprenticeships continue to thrive in trade-based industries like construction and manufacturing, they also are expanding across nontraditional sectors such as information technology, law enforcement, education, healthcare, hospitality, and trade and logistics.   
One of the most tangible ways the CareerSource Florida network provides hands-on support is by employing an Apprenticeship Navigator at each of the state’s 21 local workforce development boards.
Apprenticeship Navigators help businesses understand if an apprenticeship program will fit their unique needs and how it can complement their existing talent development strategies. Once a business is on board, the navigator then works together with an apprenticeship training representative at the Florida Department of Education, who has the program development and technical expertise to build the registered apprenticeship program from the ground up.
The flexibility for an employer to design an apprenticeship program offers a consistent way to recruit, train, and retain talent that can be easily blended into current talent development strategies. Once established, apprenticeship programs reduce turnover rates, increase productivity, lower the cost of recruitment, and increase safety.
Whether you are a business that needs to train talent or a job seeker with career goals, we are here to support you on your journey. We invite you to visit ApprenticeFlorida.com to learn more.