Rick Scott proclaims ‘Workforce Development Month’ amid employment gains

In a Tuesday news release, Gov. Rick Scott proclaimed September “Workforce Development Month,” patting the state’s economic development and employment agencies on the back.

“The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) and CareerSource Florida are committed to workforce training and providing employment assistance to the 9.5 million individuals who make up Florida’s labor force,” the announcement said. “People remain the most important asset of the Florida economy, and continued talent development allows Florida’s economy, and the job opportunities available within the state, to grow.”

The ho-hum declaration included reference to the state’s unemployment rate, which sits at 5.4 percent as of July 2015, as well as private sector job gains, which come in at 917,000 new jobs since December 2010.

The gains don’t take into account cuts in public employees, though Scott often cites the statistic as a marker of economic recovery. The announcement also touts 273,000 monthly job openings, based on a report from Help Wanted OnLine that tracks openings across about 16,000 online job boards.

“We thank Governor Scott for his recognition of Workforce Development Month,” CareerSource Florida President and CEO Chris Hart IV said. “By continuing to emphasize the importance of the development of our workforce to meet the needs of business, both today and tomorrow, Florida will be a global leader for talent.”

Scott’s announcement follows similar proclamations from other governors, including announcements last week from Wisconsin governor and Republican presidential candidate Scott Walker and Democratic Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper.