The Orlando Economic Partnership (OEP) has released its “Closing the Gap: 2025 Orlando Talent Report,” which examines workforce challenges and opportunities in the region. The report highlights that while Orlando continues to be one of the fastest-growing employment centers in the United States, many businesses are facing significant difficulties in recruitment and addressing skills gaps.
According to the report, 57 percent of businesses in Orlando report challenges in recruiting talent, and nearly 60 percent are dealing with skills shortages. Projections indicate that almost one million job openings will emerge over the next five years, with a third of these positions concentrated in sectors such as healthcare, digital and creative industries, and science and engineering.
Rapid technological advancements and increased use of artificial intelligence are changing employer requirements. The study notes that only 18 percent of local businesses feel confident their workforce is prepared for these changes.
“These findings underscore an urgent need for coordinated action to ensure Orlando’s workforce is ready for the future,” said Tim Giuliani, President & CEO of the Orlando Economic Partnership. “Closing the talent gap is critical to sustaining our economic momentum and achieving the Orlando 2045 vision.”
The OEP recommends several strategies to address these issues. These include adopting skills-based hiring practices to widen access to jobs, expanding programs in high-growth fields through partnerships between educational institutions like UCF and Lockheed Martin or Valencia College and advanced manufacturing companies, as well as embedding a combination of job-specific skills, durable skills, and digital literacy into education and workforce initiatives.
Curium Solutions served as presenting sponsor for the report. Its CEO Daniel Entwistle stated: “Talent powers every great region.” He added: “Preparing for the future means building leaders and teams with the mindset, clarity, courage, and capability to navigate change. We’re proud to support Orlando’s commitment to building a future-ready workforce.”
Neil Hamilton, Vice President of Research & Strategy at OEP and primary author of the report, emphasized regional growth but warned about potential worker shortages in key occupational areas. “Orlando’s economic story is one of remarkable growth,” Hamilton said. “We’ve projected the future flow of workers into high-growth occupational families, and we simply won’t have enough workers in these fields to meet demand. The region’s long-term focus should be on ensuring our workforce has the skills to thrive in a future economy.” He also noted: “Skills are the new currency of the labor market.”
The findings were presented during OEP’s Policy in Progress Series event at University of Central Florida College of Nursing. This event brought together executives from major employers, higher education leaders, and state legislators.
Florida House District 45 Representative Leonard Spencer commented on policy implications: “We must look at our workforce as a strategic advantage over other states.” He continued: “As lawmakers we should think about how we are investing our capital and our resources to ensure we have the innovation and the workforce to remain competitive, not just here at home but on a global scale.”
Tracy Nealley from AdventHealth Central Florida discussed collaboration between employers and educators: “One of the most critical strategies is tighter alignment between education and employers, faster and continuously.” She highlighted ongoing partnerships such as that between UCF and AdventHealth: “The UCF and AdventHealth partnership is a great example of employer and education providers moving beyond transactional relationships into a more collaborative one.”
The Policy in Progress Series aims to advance key elements tied to OEP’s vision for Orlando through discussions among business leaders, academics, policymakers, alongside OEP research.
For further information or media inquiries regarding this initiative or upcoming events related to policy issues affecting regional development efforts led by OEP staff members including Laureen Martinez (Senior Vice President), interested parties can contact her directly.
