Florida needs skilled trades workers more than any other state. That is a key finding from The State of America’s Skilled Trades: A National Report, which the Alliance for America’s Skilled Trades released Sept. 30. For Charlotte County, that demand signals opportunity. In fact, the county is already building the pipeline to meet it.
For employers deciding where to locate, expand or hire, the numbers matter. Equally important is what communities are doing about them, and Charlotte County is taking action.
What the report found
BlackRock, Carhartt, Ford Motor Co. and Google launched the Alliance in July 2026. For this report, the coalition studied 124 skilled trades occupations across all 50 states. The Burning Glass Institute and Jobs for the Future led the analysis.
Florida earned a demand-pressure score of 95 out of 100, the highest in the nation. In other words, no state offers more opportunity for skilled trades careers. Florida is also one of nine states, including Texas, Georgia and the Carolinas, where employer demand for skilled trades workers is especially strong.
On top of that, Florida’s trades are growing. The Alliance projects skilled trades employment in the state will grow 12.3% from 2024 to 2034, the fourth-fastest pace in the country. About 26% of Florida’s 1.04 million trade workers are 55 or older. As they retire, they will open doors for new talent. The most in-demand trades include industrial machinery mechanics, tool and die makers, precision instrument repairers, structural iron and steel workers and electricians. In other words, these are the same skills advanced manufacturers and aerospace suppliers rely on…