Empowering Floridians through Education
Talent Strong Florida is dedicated to ensuring all Floridians have equitable access to education beyond high school. We believe by investing in education, we can create a stronger, more vibrant state economy and build resilient communities. However, achieving this goal requires the active support and collaboration of community leaders and policymakers like you.
Floridians who attain degrees and credentials during and beyond high school puts more money into the pockets of Florida families and the economy. Homegrown talent makes businesses stronger.
We encourage you to champion policies and initiatives that expand access to degrees and credentials during and beyond high school for all Floridians. Advocate for increased funding, resources, and support for educational programs that help students from diverse backgrounds succeed. Join us in fostering partnerships with local businesses, schools, and community organizations to create pathways that align education with workforce needs.
Use Talent Strong Florida data, research, and its partners to support you in making a difference.
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Shaping Florida’s Future
Florida is ripe for a strong pool of locally grown talent, with a strong business climate and rising workforce demand.
Florida has strong training and education systems poised to fuel the future workforce.
Source: Fl. Chamber, 2023
Top 10 Industry Sectors by GDP Growth Rate
Talent Strong Florida brings together education, policy, and industry leaders to align postsecondary systems with the needs of a dynamic industry sector and rapidly growing regional economies, ensuring Florida’s workforce is prepared for today’s jobs and tomorrow’s opportunities.
For Florida to remain strong, all Floridians need access to high-value credentials and degrees during and beyond high school and the opportunities for lifelong learning.
Florida Attainment Profiles, sourced from FCAN website: floridacollegeaccess.org/research-and-data/is-your-county-talent-strong/ With profiles for each of Florida’s 67 counties, this resource features five-year degree attainment trends, average wages by education/training level, and a summary of state and county-level attainment data.
Talent Strong Florida Through Collaborative Partnerships
Every Year There’s a New Opportunity to Elevate Florida’s Talent.
Every year, Florida faces a critical opportunity to shape its future workforce and economy. 180,000 students will graduate from high school each year. Of those 60,000 will enroll in college but not complete, representing a loss for Florida’s communities.
We can and must do better.
By increasing the college readiness, college enrollment, and college completion rates, Florida can generate billions in economic, fiscal, and societal returns including:
Higher Earnings
Stable Employment
Better Health
Wealth Accumulation
Higher State Revenues
Lower Government Expenditures
Increased GDP Per Capita
The goal is to eliminate gaps in college enrollment and completion rates, potentially adding nearly 30,000 new enrollees and degree awards from underrepresented groups each year.
Source: Florida Department of Education
Champion Labor Market-informed Pathways
Promote the value of high-level skills.
Many of the high-wage jobs driving Florida’s growth require education beyond a high school diploma, making college and specialized degrees essential for our state’s economic future.
Engaged employers play a critical role by participating in advisory boards and industry associations, helping shape education pathways to meet the demands of the modern economy.
By championing the value of high-level skills, raising awareness of labor-market informed pathways, and fostering collaboration between businesses, philanthropy, and education partners, we aim to ensure more than 60% of Floridians aged 25-64–from all communities–hold a high-value postsecondary certificate, degree, or training experience.
Sign up to be a Champion of Talent Strong Florida and receive data tools and insights to make a difference.
Uniting to Elevate Florida's Talent
Through our collective power, we can impact Florida’s future talent.
With its 6 significant regional economies and 3 rural areas of opportunity, Florida is poised to lead by focusing on high-priority economic clusters and cultivating partnerships between employers and postsecondary institutions.
Increasing jobs in higher-wage industries and aligning talent at all levels can create a ripple effect that boosts business investment, employment, and overall economic growth.
Talent Strong Florida is more than just a push for higher education–it’s about aligning our talent systems with the needs of Florida’s growing industry sectors to drive higher wages and create additional economic impact.
Together, we can ensure more students obtain the degrees and credentials that lead to high-wage jobs, advanced wages, and long-term resiliency in our diversifying economy.
Together, we can strengthen home-grown talent and keep Florida thriving.
Florida College Access Network is at the heart of a movement to ensure today’s students are prepared for tomorrow’s jobs. Seven conditions can make that possible. These conditions should guide Florida policies and programs as they set the stage for building a resilient and recession-proof workforce for future generations.
Opportunity for Everyone
All Floridians need access to education after high school and the supports needed to complete.
Clear Information and Guidance
Students of all ages and their families need exposure and counseling early and often to make informed decisions about their futures.
Affordability
Multiple Pathways to Success
Floridians benefit from multiple learning opportunities for academic achievement and career advancement.
Lifelong Learning
No degree or credential is “one and done.” Floridians need to prepare for career changes through continuous learning opportunities.
Data-Informed Decision-Making
Transparent access to data on education and economic outcomes help achieve our goals.
Community Collaboration
Working together with a shared vision, cross-sector community partnerships remove barriers for students, accelerate meaningful action, and ultimately build a resilient workforce improving the quality of life for their regions.