Over the next five years Orlando will remain one of the nation’s fastest-growing employment centers. But, as the region charts its path toward realizing the Orlando 2045 vision of becoming a global creative capital, its economic growth will present new labor force challenges.
The Orlando Economic Partnership’s new strategic analysis Closing the Gap: 2025 Orlando Talent Report examines the trajectory of the Orlando region’s workforce from 2026 to 2031 in relation to its labor demand and calls for bold steps to strengthen the region’s talent pipeline.
Here are five key takeaways from the report:
1. Robust economic growth has come with growing pains.
In 2024, Orlando was the fastest-growing population and employment center among large U.S. metros. This growth puts pressure on the local labor market. More than half (57%) of local businesses surveyed identified recruitment as a challenge, often due to a lack of qualified candidates, with a similar percentage reporting skills gaps. One reason for these issues is the disproportionate concentration of workers in lower-wage roles.
2. The next five years represent a golden opportunity for Orlando.
Orlando has a unique opportunity to align workforce capabilities and industry needs. While job growth momentum continues to propel the region forward, a more moderate pace allows industry, government, and academic leaders to be strategic in creating talent development pipelines for high-demand roles.
3. The region must prioritize supplying workers into high-growth occupational families.
High-growth occupational families are broad occupation groups that are currently undersupplied and expected to grow at a faster pace than overall employment. Specific high-growth industries such as healthcare, digital and creative industries, and science and engineering are forecast to have demand for career fields that will pay above the region’s median wage. These families also feed into the OEP’s targeted industries and support the Orlando 2045 vision of becoming a global creative capital.
One million job openings are projected between 2026 and 2031, with high-growth occupational families making up one third. However, new worker supply for each group is expected to fall short of the region’s needs. Ensuring a sufficient talent pipeline to meet this demand is a prime opportunity for residents to obtain higher-paying jobs, promoting good quality of life and economic stability.
4. Investing in skills will be key for a skills-driven future.
Amid rapid technological change, skills will be the competitive advantage of the future. Three skill types, represented by the “Golden Skills Trifecta,” will be pivotal to moving workers from low-wage and oversupplied roles into high-growth occupational families.
These include job-specific (fundamental skills unique to a job or industry), durable (soft skills), and digital literacy (ability to use and adapt to technology) skills. When combined, these critical capabilities are key to a competitive, adaptable regional workforce.
5. Increased funding for local colleges and universities is critical.
The report recommends 10 strategies to close talent gaps, and increasing funding for colleges and universities is the most critical to success. The future supply of skilled graduates is largely a capacity issue at the regional level, and that capacity is dictated by funding. Thus, securing additional funding for the University of Central Florida (UCF), Seminole State College, and Valencia College would allow Orlando’s education partners to better align programs with industry needs and capitalize on partnerships like that of UCF and global financial services company BNY.
The OEP’s Closing the Gap: 2025 Orlando Talent Report explores the Orlando region’s opportunity to create an adaptable, competitive workforce. Together we can take bold steps to strengthen our talent pipeline by scaling programs in high-growth fields, investing in skills, and advocating for increased education funding.
In a world of constant change, Orlando’s ability to develop, retain, and upskill its workforce will help realize the 2045 vision of becoming a global creative capital.
