Florida has been ranked the nation’s top state for attracting and developing a skilled workforce for the third consecutive year, according to the 2024 Talent Attraction Scorecard released Tuesday by labor market analytics firm Lightcast.
The scorecard evaluates job growth, education attainment, regional competitiveness and migration, with Florida also securing high marks for overall job growth, competitive effect, skilled job growth and high-earning job growth.
The report placed seven of the nation’s 10 highest scoring large metropolitan statistical areas in Florida, including Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach at No. 3, Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford at No. 4, and Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater at No. 8. Four mid-sized metro areas also ranked in the top 10 nationally, led by The Villages at No. 1.
Governor Ron DeSantis credited the ranking to Florida’s focus on education and training.
“We’re not just preparing for the future—we’re ahead of schedule, building a workforce ready for high-demand, high-wage careers today,” he said in a statement. The administration has set a goal of becoming No. 1 in workforce education by 2030.
State University System Chancellor Ray Rodrigues cited $200 million in recent funding to recruit and retain top-tier faculty, while Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas said the state’s “talent pipeline is delivering results.”
CareerSource Florida President and CEO Adrienne Johnston called the ranking “a testament to our strategic investments in workforce education and our commitment to preparing Floridians for the jobs of tomorrow.”
Since 2019, the state has seen 3.8 million new business formations, including more than 360,000 this year.
The fiscal year 2025–26 budget includes $726.9 million for workforce education programs, while the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund has awarded more than $291 million to infrastructure and training projects that state officials say have created more than 30,000 workforce education opportunities and 40,000 new jobs.