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New Florida Chamber Foundation Report Shows More Floridians with Disabilities Are Employed

Challenges and Opportunities Remain to Create Opportunities for Economic Prosperity

 

Tallahassee, Fla. (Jan. 17, 2019) – The Florida Chamber Foundation today released their Study of Employment of Floridians with a Disability Report, which shows more Floridians with a disability were employed in 2017- with the unemployment rate for Floridians with a disability falling nearly 7 percentage points from 2013 to 2017.

 

The report, which also includes county data for several metrics, shows that:

“It is very important that we conduct research as a basis to consider progress and to determine what we and our partners are doing to make Florida’s workforce more inclusive for people with disabilities,” said Dr. Susanne Homant, President and CEO of The Able Trust. “This study not only shows how Florida as a whole is doing, it gives us insight into how each individual county is doing. We have a large untapped workforce resource in Florida and I urge business leaders to take some time to investigate this group. There are some really talented potential employees just waiting for an opportunity.”

 

While a declining unemployment rate for Floridians with disability is good news, challenges and opportunities still remain.

 

“As we look toward 2030, we know Florida will need to create approximately 1.7 million net new jobs, many in industries that don’t exist today,” said Dr. Jerry Parrish, Chief Economist of the Florida Chamber Foundation. “As we look at the number of people who are not in the workforce and compare it to future needs, it’s important to continue our state’s momentum and focus on creating pathways toward economic opportunity, diversifying and growing our economy, and ensuring Florida’s cradle to career system is ready to create the talent Florida’s businesses need.”

 

According to the Florida Chamber Foundation’s research, strategies to improve employment by persons with disabilities include:

 

The report, an update on the research released in 2016 and part of the Florida Chamber Foundation’s ongoing research, can be found at www.FloridaChamber.com/EmploymentReport2019.

 

For county specific data or for more information on the report, please contact kbustamante@flfoundation.org.

 

*as of 1.16.2019

 

 

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The Florida Chamber Foundation is the business-led, solutions development and research organization working in partnership with state business leaders to secure Florida’s future. The Foundation’s “Six Pillars” serve as a visioning platform for developing the first-ever, long-term strategic plan for the state. The Foundation’s work focuses on: 1) Talent Supply and Education, 2) Innovation and Economic Development, 3) Infrastructure and Growth Leadership, 4) Business Climate and Competitiveness, 5) Civic and Governance Systems, and 6) Quality of Life and Quality Places. Founded in 1968, the Foundation is a crucial voice for improving the state’s pro-business climate to enable Florida to grow and prosper. Visit www.FLFoundation.org  for more information.

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