The Florida Chamber Foundation is warning that gaps in math proficiency among K-12 students pose a direct risk to the state’s long-term economic growth and its goal of becoming a top 10 global economy by 2030.

In a report released Tuesday, the Foundation identified a disconnect between the math skills taught in Florida’s public schools and the competencies employers say are needed in the workforce. Only 65% of Florida’s eighth-grade students are proficient in math, according to the report, falling short of state targets and raising concerns about the readiness of future workers to meet employer demands.

The report, titled Aligning Math Education to Workforce Needs: Insights From Florida’s Employers, draws from focus groups and surveys of business leaders, educators, and parents. Employers across multiple sectors said they face persistent challenges finding job candidates with sufficient math skills, including problem-solving, data analysis, and financial literacy.

“Our findings suggest a significant, yet solvable, misalignment between the skills taught in Florida’s K-12 classrooms and the skills required by Florida’s employers,” says Dr. Keith Richard, Vice President of Research at the Florida Chamber Foundation and principal author of this report. “Our education system must continue evolving to bridge this gap. By aligning curriculum with real-world applications and strengthening partnerships between educators and industry, we can ensure students are equipped with the practical math skills needed for long-term career success.”

In addition to academic gaps, employers surveyed reported difficulty finding candidates with applied math skills relevant to business operations. Among those, data analysis and financial literacy were most frequently cited. The report recommends that Florida’s education system incorporate more real-world applications of math, strengthen partnerships between schools and businesses, and expand opportunities for students to explore math-intensive careers.

The report also reflects a shift in business community priorities, with talent availability increasingly viewed as a more significant factor in economic development than traditional tax incentives.

Florida Chamber of Commerce President Mark Wilson noted in the report that “talent is quickly replacing the tax incentive as the most important economic development tool in the toolkit.”

While Florida has taken recent legislative steps to address reading proficiency, the Chamber is calling for similar attention to be placed on math education. Business leaders interviewed for the report expressed willingness to partner with educational institutions but emphasized the need for structured collaboration to address resource disparities and curriculum alignment.

“This report is a call to action. While 65% of Florida’s eighth graders are math proficient, there’s still ground to cover,” shared Bemetra Simmons, President & CEO, Tampa Bay Partnership, Tampa Bay’s premier economic development leader, within the report. “Every percentage point represents a student’s future and our region’s economic strength. Let’s use these findings to drive collaboration among educators, business leaders, and policymakers—building a talent pipeline rooted in strong math skills to secure Florida’s future.”