September 20, 2007 Haas Center for Business Research and Economic Development

1. 21st Century Skills of the Emerald Coast Workforce: Beyond TodayRegional Workforce Needs, Educational Statistics and Region Promise September 20, 2007 Haas Center for Business Research and Economic Development Rick Harper, Director

3. David Denslow at UF has noted that Florida’s low wages can be traced to three sources: climate, a low or average cost of living, and a less skilled work force. People are willing to accept lower pay because of the state’s warmth, beaches, and lakes. If hurricanes change these perceptions, making warmth and coast slightly less of an attraction, then wages will rise. The cost of living has risen as house prices have soared. Since 2000 house prices in Florida have gone up 38% more than nationally. Based on the cost of living, you would expect relative pay in Florida to rise.

4. If the occupational composition of the work force in Florida had been the same as the nation’s in 2006, the average wage in Florida would have been about 4% higher. Total wages paid would have been around $11 billion more. For example, Florida has only 77% of our share of the nation’s scientists and engineers. The reasons Florida has 150,000 fewer than its share of people in the top ten percent of occupations by average age arise from a combination of lower demand for and a lower supply of such workers. Demand effects include such things as having a large senior population and a large tourist sector. The major item on the supply side include the state’s historically low support for education.

7. Sources of Growth

8. Source: Florida Legislature Office of Economic and Demographic Research

9. Key Sectors: • Life Sciences (including Biotechnology, Medical Device Manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and Health Care) • Information Technology (including IT Products/Services, Software Development, Modeling/Simulation/Training, Photonics/Lasers/Optics, Microelectronics, and Telecommunications) • Aviation / Aerospace • Homeland Security / Defense • Financial / Professional Services • Manufacturing

18. State of Florida

19. Escambia County

20. Santa Rosa

21. Okaloosa

22. Walton

23. Occupational Ed. Requirement Categories Less than a High School Diploma – (1) Occupations in which workers can receive the training they need on the job and are not required to have earned a High School Diploma or GED. High School Diploma or GED – (2) Occupations that generally require a High School Diploma or GED for employment Post Secondary Adult Vocational Certificate – (3) Occupations that generally require completion of Career and Technical training. Some programs last only a few weeks while others may last more than a year. In some occupations, a license is needed that requires an examination after completion of the training. College Credit Certificate, Applied Technology Diploma, Associate of Applied Science, Associate Degree’s – (4) Occupations that generally require the completion of a college credit credential. College Credit Certificate and Applied Technology Diploma’s are specialized college credit credentials that vary in length. Associate of Applied Science and Associate Degree’s generally require at least 2 years of full-time equivalent academic work. Bachelor’s Degree – (5) Occupations that generally require a Bachelor’s Degree. Completion of the degree program generally requires at least 4 years, but not more than 5 years, of full-time equivalent academic work. Master’s Degree or Higher – (6) Occupations that generally require a master’s, doctoral, or first professional degree. Completion of one of these degree programs usually requires from 1 or 6 years of full-time equivalent academic work beyond the bachelor’s degree.

32. The Blinder Offshorability Index The critical labor-market distinction between high skilled workers and less skilled workers is less valid in today’s society. In the future, this critical divide may be more about those jobs that are easily deliverable through a wire without reducing the quality of services and those that are not. Providing more education may not be the answer.

34. Occupation Growth for Aerospace and Aviation (2006-2014) Source: Labormarketinfo.com

35. Occupation Growth for Information Technology (2006-2014))

36. Career Academies in Florida

37. Organizational Structure of Florida’s Career Academies

38. Who Selects the Focus of the Career Academies?

39. What Businesses Are Sayingabout vocational technical graduates Question: Whether those possessing only a high school education were prepared or unprepared to serve in [the respondent’s] company.

40. What Businesses Are Sayingabout their needs • Teach soft skills in conjunction with technical skills • Teach flexibility and importance of lifelong learning • Make practical application of knowledge part of curriculum

41. What Businesses Are Sayingabout the future • Need for a more highly skilled workforce • Continuing need for soft skills • Increased need for certified technicians

42. 21st Century Skills of the Emerald Coast Workforce: Beyond TodayRegional Workforce Needs, Educational Statistics and Region Promise Questions? September 20, 2007 Haas Center for Business Research and Economic Development Rick Harper, Director