Workforce

The manufacturing, warehouse and distribution sector pulls from a diverse employee base that includes a mix of experienced workers and young, motivated graduates of the region’s state university, community colleges and vocational/technical schools. The region also gains from state and local government commitment to providing employers with a well-rounded, skilled workforce.

Collaboration between private industry and educational institutions has led to the development of valuable training programs and internships that further strengthen the employee pool available to businesses in this sector. Several industry organizations and funded programs also provide extensive support and customized training to employees in such areas as increasing productivity.

As one of the nation’s leading metropolitan research institutes, the University of Central Florida offers a curriculum designed to meet various levels of industry staffing requirements through academic degree programs in business administration and industrial engineering, as well as its affiliation with the adjacent Central Florida Research Park. Seminole State College of Florida offers courses of study in business administration and management, while Valencia Community College features manufacturing courses as part of its Associate in Applied Science Degree program.

Florida is a Right to Work state, which secures the right of employees to decide whether to join or financially support a union. With only 6.6 percent of Metro Orlando’s approximately 849,000 employed workers as union members—much lower than the national average—employers in this sector are able to offer salaries and wages that reflect industry standards, thereby allowing them to set more competitive prices for goods and services.