With workforce development having been identified as a crucial component of economic competitiveness and regional long-term success, the Greater Pensacola Chamber, along with several key regional partners, today released the findings from its GAP analysis report – a commissioned study on current and future employment trends used to identify opportunities in training and recruiting that affect the region’s labor market.
The much-anticipated report – which focuses primarily on the manufacturing and information (IT) sectors – provides a holistic overview of the region’s available workforce, while also looking specifically at the employment demands and training needs of Greater Pensacola’s targeted industries. The study involved strategic discussions and data collection from various sources, including focus groups, surveys and one-on-one interviews with local businesses, education and training partners.
“The Chamber is committed to ensuring that our business community is adequately prepared for an ever-changing global economy,” said Greater Pensacola Chamber President Jerry Maygarden. “This comprehensive report can serve as a tool to help encourage our education and business partners to work together to meet the demands our existing key industries, which in turn brings economic prosperity to our region.”
A GAP analysis, also known as a needs assessment, is a comparison of actual versus potential performance, which helps to determine what steps need to be taken in order to help a business, organization or issue reach a particular goal. The study was commissioned by the Greater Pensacola Chamber and the University of West Florida’s Haas Center for Business and Economic Research, with support provided by CareerSource Florida and Gulf Power Company.
The report analyzed the job demand in two clusters:
The Information Technology cluster is unique in that it serves as a solid foundation for healthcare, financial services, call centers, government, etc. The IT cluster encompasses the following traditional clusters: Back Office/Professional Services; Research and Development in IT and Cybersecurity.
Analysts discovered that the region will need approximately 752 individuals over the next five years to meet demand for the Pensacola metro. Net new demand resulting from economic development projects will add 340 to this total for a total demand off 1092. Education/training programs will produce approximately 1052 trained individuals with various baskets of skill sets to meet this need—however, there is a significant skills type mismatch between supply and demand.
In three critical areas— computer engineers, computer repair & maintenance and computer systems, the supply of available talent will fail to meet the demands of long-term growth and economic development opportunities.
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The Advanced Manufacturing cluster encompasses aviation manufacturing and maintenance, offshore vessel services and the technologically evolving (and increasingly technologically dependent) traditional manufacturing clusters. It encompasses skills associated with traditional manufacturing such as craft labor but it also requires advanced skills beyond traditional manufacturing with overlap with IT and other critical occupational groups across the American economy.
Over the next five years, total demand for new and replacement workers is forecast to total approximately 1,305 workers. Expanded economic development opportunities are forecast to add approximately 745 to this baseline for a total demand figure of 2,150 new and replacement workers.
Regional education and workforce training programs are forecast to train 300. A substantial gap therefore exists between total workforce demand and total production of a trained workforce in the region – at least as it relates to the formal training structure.
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Both these sectors are flourishing. Several announcements were made this year, including ST Aerospace Inc. at Pensacola International Airport Commerce Park and Offshore Inland and Deepflex’s facility at the Port of Pensacola. To download or view a copy of the GAP analysis (PDF format), visit www.PensacolaChamber.com/Vision-2015/workforce-GAP-analysis.