Florida Chamber’s 2018 Capitol Days Focuses on 2018 Jobs Agenda

$1 Trillion Economy & 180,000 New Jobs in 2018

TALLAHASSEE, FL (January 10, 2018) – Business leaders from throughout Florida are in Tallahassee today as part of the Florida Chamber’s 2018 Capitol Days, focusing on the 2018 Jobs Agenda to help strengthen Florida’s economy, spur growth, create jobs and lift incomes.

“By reducing the cost of living and cost of doing business, redoubling efforts on workforce, and investing in infrastructure, Florida’s economy will continue to strengthen, and jobs, wages and opportunities will grow for Floridians,” said Bob Grammig, Chair, Florida Chamber Board of Directors and Partner, Holland & Knight.

Florida will become a $1 trillion economy by the end of 2018 and will create 180,000 jobs in 2018 –outpacing the U.S. economy in job growth for the eighth year in a row, according to Florida Chamber Chief Economist Dr. Jerry Parrish. Florida’s population growth – growing at a rate of 898 residents per day over the past year – will continue to drive Florida’s economy. Get the latest Florida Chamber Foundation economic data here.

To help ensure Florida stays on track for a strong year of growth, business leaders attending the Florida Chamber’s 2018 Capitol Days focused their attention on:

Reducing the Cost of Living:

Floridians currently pay the 6th highest automobile insurance rates, and homeowners are facing up to a 10 percent increase in their property insurance rates. Fraud and scams have further contributed to rising insurance rates.

• Putting consumer protection first will help lower the cost of living on Floridians.

Reducing the Cost of Doing Business:

Florida’s business community is facing a $1.5 billion impact from workers’ comp rates.

• Fix Florida’s workers’ compensation system.

Florida’s bottom five legal environment is an open invitation for “gotcha” lawsuits that cost Florida families $3,400 each year.

• Fix Florida’s broken lawsuit climate.

Discouraging and discriminatory tax policies, like the Florida-only business rent tax, are uncompetitive.

• Build on competitive tax policies.

Preparing for the Future:

There are 369,000 people looking for jobs and 265,200 jobs looking for people. Finding a qualified workforce is a top concern for job creators. Employers need talent that is prepared to enter the workforce, and Florida wins when we close the talent gap.

• Redouble efforts on workforce education.
• Expand access to higher education and attainment.

By 2030, 5.4 million more people will call Florida home. A growing Florida means a growing need for infrastructure investments in Florida’s energy, water, transportation, telecommunications, agriculture and other hard and soft infrastructure sectors.

• Championing long-term, sustainable water and environmental policies.
• Supporting proactive economic planning and development.
• Championing innovations in all modes of transportation.
• Advocating for efficient and sustainable energy solutions.

“Year after year, the Florida Chamber has been at the forefront of solving issues that impact the competitiveness and future of Florida’s business climate. Our focus remains steadfast in our efforts to be the driving force uniting Florida’s business community, creating economic opportunity and growing jobs,” said Mark Wilson, President and CEO, Florida Chamber of Commerce.

Featured speakers included: CFO Jimmy Patronis, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, Deputy Chief Judge David Langham, St. John’s River State College President Joe Pickens, News Service of Florida Executive Editor Jim Saunders, Senator Bill Galvano, Representative Jose Oliva, and others. A complete agenda of speakers is available here.

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The Florida Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business and the state’s largest federation of employers, chambers of commerce and associations aggressively representing small and large businesses from every industry and every region. The Florida Chamber works within all branches of government to affect those changes set forth in the annual Florida Business Agenda, and which are seen as critical to secure Florida’s future. The Florida Chamber works closely with its Florida Political Operations and the Florida Chamber Foundation. Visit www.FloridaChamber.com for more information.