Staff Writer
Opinions vary whether the economy is out of the recession, is on the way out or is heading toward a double-dip hit.
History will determine when the recession ended, and Jacksonville Community Council Inc. wants the workforce to be prepared.
At its 35th annual meeting Sept. 29, JCCI will officially announce its next annual study, “Recession, Recovery and Beyond: Job Creation, Employment and Improving Northeast Florida’s Competitiveness.”
The study will examine the economic landscape, what skills will be needed and what jobs will be there for the workforce in Northeast Florida.
Skip Cramer, JCCI executive director, said the timing and topic are poised to have as much of an impact as the civic organization’s “Our Money, Our City: Financing Jacksonville’s Future” study. It was often cited by city leaders during last year’s budget preparation.
Cramer said many skilled workers who lost their jobs have adjusted their expectations. Instead of seeking elusive new jobs in their desired fields, they now just want to return to work in some capacity.
The study will look at which fields will be focal points following the recession.
“It’s an opportunity and a challenge,” said Cramer. “The reality is people just want to get back to work.”
In addition, Cramer said the message fits well with that presented by the Florida Board of Governors, which wants to increase the number of high-tech, high-knowledge jobs as a revenue-builder in the state.
The Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce Cornerstone Economic Development Partnership and business and civic groups and members will be involved in the study, Cramer said.
Cramer said it would also be the first time a JCCI study will encompass the seven-county Cornerstone area: Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam and St. Johns counties.
One organization that will play an integral role in the study is WorkSource, a job service that improves employment opportunities through education and training. The organization will fund the study.
Candace Moody, WorkSource communications vice president, said the study is a good fit as it also looks ahead to what the jobs landscape will look like after the recession.
“For us, it’s one of the biggest questions,” said Moody. “We’re always trying to think ahead so we can help prepare for new careers.”
Moody said it will be interesting to see how the job market looks after the recession and what the study finds.
The middle tier of jobs was squeezed as the recession worsened. Businesses that cut back and survived are reluctant to immediately rehire for fear of another downturn.
Cramer said that the study, like the others before it, will be a three-year endeavor with the first year devoted to fact-finding followed by two years of implementation. He is interviewing candidates to chair the study.
The study will start in October with fact-finding during the weeks before the holidays. The study then continues with analysis and creation of the final report to be released in the spring.
Cramer said there is no cap on the number of study participants, but he expects 40-50 people.
“There’s a great deal of interest out there,” he said. “We’re going to start with gusto.”
For more information, visit www.jcci.org.
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