With more people bypassing college to put a focus on trade school, there is now a designated day to celebrate employees of labor and trade industries and educate those considering a profession in those fields.
Data published by Employ Florida projected annual growth of construction and manufacturing careers to increase 1.58 percent each year, with more than 6,000 people employed in those fields by 2023 in Pinellas County alone,
Those numbers are even higher in Hillsborough County, where Employ Florida is estimating that more than 13,000 people will work in the trade and labor industries by 2023, making it the the sixth most densly populated career field in the county.
Here is a breakdown of how many jobs are currently available in the manufacuturing and contruction fields:
- Hernando- 32
- Hillsborough- 692
- Pasco- 82
- Pinellas – 257
- Polk- 151
In January, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced an executive order intended to bolster interest in trades education and career paths.
According to the governor, Florida is ranked No. 24 in the nation for its workforce and technical training programs— rankings defined by the number of people between the ages of 24 and 64 with at least an associate degree or a trade certificate.
DeSantis wants the Legistlature to allocate $10 million to workforce apprenticeships and an additional $26 million to state college programs that align with the current trends of Florida's job market.
In many bay area communities, skills-based classes begin in middle schools in subjects such as manufacturing, cosmetology, information technology or agriculture — careers that typically don't require a college degree.
Construction and Manufacturing Jobs
Here's a look at the current job openings in the construction and manufacturing fields in the respective counties. Honer over the bar to see the exact number.
Source: Employ Florida