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Study: Northwest Florida Behind In Work Skills, Education
February 14, 2015
The University of West Florida Haas Center recently completed research that suggests metro areas in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Bay counties have workforces that trail their counterparts around the country in skills and education.
The Haas Center’s findings are presented in its new Job Skills Index, which ranks metro areas by how well they attract and retain educated and other highly skilled workers.
“This is one thing that can affect migration of skilled workers to a region,” said Soheil Nadimi, the Haas Center economist who conducted the analysis. “In areas that rank highly on the skills index, educated workers would be part of a cluster of skilled workers where it is more likely that they could develop professionally.”
Some key Haas Center findings:
- The Pensacola area, which includes Escambia and Santa Rosa \counties, placed 11th among of 22 Florida metropolitan statistical areas. The Pensacola area barely beat the average index score for metro areas in the state, but fell short of the average index score for metro areas around the country.
- The Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin area ranked ninth on the list of Florida metro areas, beating both the average state and national index scores.
- The Panama City area came in 15th on the list, with an index score below both the state and national averages.
“Maintaining high average wages is an increasing challenge for Florida,” said UWF economist Rick Harper, who oversees the University’s Office of Economic Development and Engagement. “Some of our fastest business growth has been in meeting the needs of tourist and retiree customers, and these sectors tend to have lower-than-average wages. That doesn’t create the labor force that will draw high-tech, high-wage businesses to the state. We have a pressing need to build skill sets that will earn enough to support families.”
College-educated and other skilled workers generally earn more than their low-skill counterparts. In addition, they tend to raise incomes in the areas in which they reside by creating jobs and convincing firms that employ skilled workers to relocate or expand in the region.
A dearth of jobs requiring a college education or special skill set can create a situation in which skilled workers who want to stay in an area must accept lower pay or take positions that aren’t commensurate with their skill level. Faced with that kind of choice, such workers might choose to migrate to areas that provide better jobs and a larger professional community.
“This is one thing that can affect migration of skilled workers to a region,” said Soheil Nadimi, the Haas Center economist who conducted the analysis.
Click data chart to enlarge.
Comments
11 Responses to “Study: Northwest Florida Behind In Work Skills, Education”
With reference to the lady(@mary) referencing Rick Harper and Judy Bense….
A school, be it a pre-K or university, it should be about EDUCATION and not business entrepreneurial endeavors.
UWF purchased Scenic Hills Country Club and golf course and it seems to have a $277k deficit last year. Colleges and universities may teach business practices, but really don’t know Jack about the real world of business. The same applies to education classes. Graduates in the field of education are not prepared for the real classroom experience. The first few days a new teacher has in the classroom is probably better than five methods classes, taught by someone who was not successful in the classroom, but could be a good “facilitator” in a college class.
All that shines is not gold or silver and for the leadership and board of trustees of UWF to continue to support these impractical and unfunded endeavors is absolutely insane.
As for the football team and that program…sack it too. Higher education is a joke when you dumb down the requirements to enter and support egotistical endeavors and leadership. Set a standard for excellence! Maybe UWF’s new motto will be
“Onward to Mediocrity”, admit all… and then cull the herd.
If there is not a competent leader in the house, find one and quit playing the game of all is well, because the Board of Trustees says so.
North Escambia has an influential voice in this community. People read the postings, opinions etc. Let’s hope those at UWF read and heed.
Why learn a skill when there’s no local demand for it?
Why start a local business when there’s no skilled people to do the work?
If it pays enough, you can go where the job is.
If you pay enough, they will come.
Problems solved
This is exactly why I have moved out of the area. I happen to reside in an area of FL that is on the higher end of this graph. Northwest FL is just not progressive enough to attract the business that would provide these higher paying jobs. The people are far too closed minded and it is starting to show. This is why people move away, and tourists only visit. Every time I do come through on a visit, places like Century and Jay make me realize why I’m only visiting.
Unfortunately too many young people around here want to get married and have babies at 19 years old rather than go to college and plan their life. It has improved, but I still see a lot of it. Like someone else mentioned, the brightest minds leave and move to cities like Atlanta and Houston, they don’t stay around here.
The counties of northwest Florida insist on pushing for jobs catering to the tourism and hospitality industry. These are seasonal low-wage, low-skill jobs and often, these jobs are filled by foreigners on work visas because they cannot find enough local candidates suitable for the jobs. Quite sad.
Anyone who is really bright would never consider living in this area to begin with unless they are lucky enough to find something here that is a high-wage, high-skill job.
Maybe Mr Harper should explain this to his boss, Judy Bense. She’s more interested in building motels and restaurants around UWF…again, low paying jobs. Why do they need a college education?
I remember back in the seventies or early eighties (not sure) Michelin Tire and Miller Brewing Co. were thinking about building their plants in this area…….Michelin is in Dothan Al and Miller Brewing is in Albany Ga. Tourism is more important!!!!
Whats the problem, Rick Scott created 700,000.00 JOBS
in Florida. Thats what he says anyway.
I agree with the below comments. I would also like a study on the existing area industrial in our area to see how they support the local economy. It would shock most people. Look at how they spend and hire for construction jobs. most all is out of town support and our local trades / supplies get nothing. we are a tourist town and that all.
@Jane
Where would they work is right. A true military town with every business from car lot to car wash preying on that guaranteed check. A retirement town. A “customer service” town. A vacation town. Definately NOT an industrial town. (We have Mobile for that) No, in the land of $10/hr jobs, the powers that be (ie; the downtown click) wanna keep it how it is. Maybe even yuppie it up some more.
Let me ask a question: If you had a skilled work force in Escambia County, where would they work? There aren’t jobs here for skilled workers. And actually there are people with degrees and with good job skills here, they are just working at other jobs. I am an Rand D specialist from silicon valley, there are no jobs here for me so I do something else. Thank your county commissioners…all they want is tourism for the downtown/beach areas.