CLM Workforce Connection in partnership with the Marion County Economic Development Corporation and Central Florida Community College, recently launched a campaign called, “Stay Strong.” Similar efforts are in the planning stage in Levy and Citrus counties.
 
The three partners interviewed 77 companies representing almost 20,000 employees in order to identify economic trends and current employer needs. Interestingly, when business leaders were asked how satisfied they were with business performance in 2007, 40 percent said very satisfied and 31% said satisfied. Forty-eight percent of the businesses cited an improvement of 2006. Sixty seven percent indicated that their current workforce had the skills to meet current business goals. However, businesses identified a broad variety of training needs that could make them stronger. The four top things that executives said kept them up at night were 1) Skilled or certified/degreed workforce, 2) Loss of sales or clients, 3) Employee layoffs, and 4) Slow real estate or construction market.
 
The workforce partners plan to host a series of workshops to address ways for employers to Stay Strong. For more information or to see the complete survey results, go to www.ocalaedc.org and click on the article regarding the employer surveys.