Florida needs skilled trades workers more than any other state — and ranks next to last in supply

A new national report says Florida has the highest demand for skilled tradespeople in the country, and almost the smallest supply of them.

• Report covered 124 skilled trades occupations across all 50 states; Florida ranked first in demand and second-to-last in supply — only Maine ranked lower.
• 26% of Florida's 1.04 million trade workers are 55 or older.
• Florida is one of nine states where demand is outpacing supply.
• The Alliance for America's Skilled Trades was founded in July by BlackRock, Carhartt, Ford Motor Co. and Google; newer members include Meta, Verizon, Dewalt, ManpowerGroup and Waymo.

The report, "The State of America's Skilled Trades" from the Alliance for America's Skilled Trades, reviewed 124 trades occupations across all 50 states. Florida ranked first in demand and second-to-last in supply — only Maine ranked lower. Florida is one of nine states where demand is outpacing supply, alongside Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas. Part of the pressure: 26% of Florida's 1.04 million trade workers are 55 or older.

The occupations facing the strongest shortage pressure in Florida, per the report: industrial and refractory machinery mechanics; tool and die makers; underground mining machine operators; elevator and escalator installers and repairers; precision instrument and equipment repairers; transportation inspectors; structural iron and steel workers; electricians; glaziers; plasterers and stucco masons; stationary engineers and boiler operators; and construction and building inspectors.

The Alliance was founded in July by BlackRock, Carhartt, Ford Motor Co. and Google, and has since added 14 members, including Meta, Verizon, Dewalt, ManpowerGroup and Waymo. The group says it is focused on expanding training, apprenticeships and career pathways into the trades. "No single company can close the skilled trades gap alone," Ford CEO Jim Farley said in a statement. "Employers, educators and policymakers must work together to help people get the training, support and jobs they need to succeed."