Workforce and Training
CareerSource Heartland is one facet of the economic development partnership seeking to improve the area’s workforce talent while meeting the business and economic needs from a regional viewpoint. We are providing the following information for Hardee county where possible, or regionally in some venues.
Population
The Census population estimate for 2018 is 27,245 people in the county.
Education
Based on a population with an age greater than 25 years of age, the following table indicates the breakdown in educational attainment of the area.
|
Population Age 25+ |
15,696 |
Percentage |
|
<Grade 9 |
3,602 |
22.95% |
|
Grade 9 - 12 |
1,990 |
12.68% |
|
High School |
5,306 |
33.80% |
|
Some College |
2,739 |
17.45% |
|
Associate’s Degree |
531 |
3.38% |
|
Bachelor’s Degree |
1,132 |
7.21% |
|
Graduate Degree |
396 |
2.52% |
Source: Applied Geographic Solutions
Workforce
The labor force is estimated to be 11,897 individuals with a 7.9% increase from the previous year (2012). The unemployment rate in December, 2013 was 6.6%, down significantly from the previous year of 8.0%. The average monthly employment in 2012 was 7,843 and the average annual wage was $29,821.
The three largest industries in the county are Agriculture (29.1%), Health Care and Social Assistance (14.0%), and Retail Trade (9.8%). Mining and quarrying industry is known to be a major employer, but the data is suppressed for employer confidentiality. The details by industry are shown in the following table:
Data Source: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) Annual Data – Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
Local Business Employment:
The 2014 First Edition of Infogroup Database provides the following breakdown of area business entities in the county:
|
Number of Employees |
1-4 |
5-9 |
10-19 |
20-49 |
50-99 |
100+ |
Total |
|
|
Number of Businesses |
535 |
168 |
56 |
47 |
10 |
10 |
826 |
CareerSournce Heartland:
The Hardee County Economic Development Office has a strong partnership with CareerSource Heartland. Together we provide many training opportunities for local employers. CareerSource Heartland's Business Operations Team believes that understanding the needs of your business is a first step in providing solutions to your employee recruitment and staff development challenges. You can visit their Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page or contact one of their representatives below for more information or assistance. Their team can also help your business apply for State and Federal programs that assist you in obtaining training dollars to raise employee skill levels.
|
Colleen Dukes |
|
|
Melissa Hayes DeSoto & Hardee County |
Laura Griffin |
|
Ken Willis |
Julie Croft |
SOUTHFLORIDA STATE COLLEGE:
South Florida State College is an asset to Hardee County as it continues to contribute to economic development in the region. South Florida State College (SFSC) consists of a Corporate and Community Education (CCE) Department that provides courses in various trade and industrial specializations. In the past, SFSC CCE has worked in conjunction with major business enterprises, such as John Deere, the Florida Association of Public Transportation, and the Florida Department of Transportation, to deliver the specialized training they demand. Click here to review the current regular CCE courses available.
The college also offers seminars geared toward business and continued education. For a schedule of seminars click here.
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