The Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership, along with CareerSource and Duke Energy, partnered together to thoroughly examine the underlying reasons for a persistently low labor force participation rate (LFPR) in Marion County. The three components used to conduct the LFPR analysis consisted of an assessment of local, regional and national data related to workforce, demographics and employment trends; interviews with local employers to examine the actual recruiting and hiring experience; and a large-scale survey of the working-age population.
The CEP and our partners know that by understanding why individuals are not in the workforce, we can better prepare our workforce and increase the overall economic vitality throughout the Ocala Metro.
Younger & Associates of Memphis, TN, conducted interviews with key employers in Marion County who provided a number of valuable insights about the labor market. Among the key findings are a need for bilingual (English/Spanish) workplaces and supervisors are necessary; Westport High School’s Logistics & Supply Chain program is providing new entrants into the labor force; and high school career days are effective. CareerSource and CEP are cited as being effective, proactive partners for employers. While the ongoing rapid population growth in Marion County is not accurately reflected in LFPR statistics, the survey found that 57.15% of people not working were seeking employment.
This report offers some options to respond to the difficulties that employers have securing the talent they need for their companies. CareerSource CLM, the CEP, and Duke believe that a key solution is in the development of a talent pipeline that originates in businesses linking with our school system. Developing stronger participation in CareerSource’s Youth Career Expos, which create awareness in 8th and 9th graders, as well as experiential learning opportunities for students ages 16 and above are essential. Marion County School System is a vital partner to expanding career awareness and after-school and summer employment.
Based on the recommendation from the report, the CEP is working to help facilitate workgroups to assist employers with the resources to:
- employ more bilingual supervisors
- establish centralized intake for to assist employers with hiring individuals with a criminal record or who have been incarcerated
- seek affordable caregiving options for individuals re-entering the workforce after the pandemic
This is data is so valuable as we work with CareerSource CLM, the school system, College of Central Florida, the Children’s Alliance, and others to address issues which are keeping individuals out of the workforce. Now is the time to address these recommendations while our job market continues to be so strong.
For more information on the report or to learn how to get involved in a workgroup, visit https://ocalacep.com/cep-news/ocala-metro-receives-labor-force-participation-analysis.
