Workforce and Talent

Talent Pipeline

Pensacola has a diverse, educated, and growing workforce – both homegrown and new residents. The University of West Florida, located in Pensacola, is one of the fastest growing universitas in the Florida state system – the top state for higher education according to U.S. News & World Report. UWF boasts over 14,000 students and over 110 degree programs and is itself perennially ranked high by U.S. News & World Report in a variety of areas.

Pensacola State College is widely recognized as a premier, student-friendly college that competes with the best – offering more than 100 programs, state-of-the-art resources, and a stellar faculty. Pensacola State is Nationally ranked in the Top One Percent in affordable tuition.

Northwest Florida education institutions have teamed up to develop Career Pathways programs in manufacturing, engineering, IT, business services and other growing and in-demand fields to ensure there is a pipeline of skilled workers available to local businesses.

Pensacola is a place people want to live, and people relocating to Northwest Florida, including a large number of military retires, are augmenting our homegrown talent.

Career Academies

Registered apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeship training programs are a key component of Florida’s workforce education ecosystem. In addition, regional school districts have developed a wide range of career academy programs that are aligned with the needs of the local economy. More than 100 Career Academy Programs are available in the two-county area.

The Military Advantage

Northwest Florida is home to six military bases, with focuses on aviation and cybersecurity. These installations and related schools provide a steady supply of exiting military looking to use their skills in civilian jobs. The Greater Pensacola area is home to more than 35,000 military retirees—the second largest concentration in the nation—many of whom want to begin a second career. Additionally, the thousands of active military members and contracted civilians are often accompanied by spouses and dependents who increase the workforce availability.

NAS Pensacola produces all Air Force’s Combat Systems Officers, the Naval Flight Officers, and the Navy’s unmanned aircraft system pilots. Northwest Florida has also become a center for cyber security with robust representation, including:

Department of Homeland Security/Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (DHS/CISA)

• National Security Agency (NSA)
• Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA)
• Naval Information Operations Command (NIOC)

Career Source

CareerSource Escarosa is a nonprofit organization committed to supporting the workforce needs of Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties. Classified as one of Florida’s 24 local Workforce Boards and a member of the CareerSource Florida Network, the organization provides employment and training resources for area job seekers and employers in the two-county area. Their business services teams can provide employment and training assistance and grants to help recruit qualified workers.