At the head of the class in moving Florida forward
Have you thought about what the workforce may look like in five years? Ten years? 15 years? The U.S. Department of Labor projects that by 2014, 15 of the 20 fastest jobs will require substantial math or science preparation. In fact, the U.S. Department of Education goes on to say our country needs 400,000 new graduates in science, technology, engineering and math — or “STEM” fields — by 2015. And while 2015 is not very far away, only 5 percent of our country’s undergraduates earn degrees in science or engineering. China’s rate is 42 percent.
Businesses go where the talent is, so for Florida to be a global leader, we have to lead in talent development at every stage. That’s why the momentum underway in Florida right now to focus on creating a true Talent Supply Chain is so timely and such a critical step ahead for our state.
At the forefront of this important journey is Belinda Keiser, chair of Workforce Florida and vice chancellor of community relations and student advancement for Keiser University. This month, I had the great opportunity to welcome and introduce Ms. Keiser to the Greater Tallahassee Chamber Professional Women’s Forum program where she emphasized the importance of talent for Florida’s future economy and encouraged the more than 175 business members in attendance to focus on world-class talent to help strengthen Florida’s future.
Focused on helping to “make” the future for our state a brighter one with more opportunities for businesses, individuals and families to prosper, Ms. Keiser has a keen eye on what’s needed to strengthen Florida’s economy.
Tags: Greater Tallahassee Chamber Professional Women's Forum, Keiser University, STEM, talent supply chain, workforce, Workforce Florida, workforce training