Opportunity Florida Announces Training Available for High Paying Jobs

Opportunity Florida Announces Training Available for High Paying Jobs

Opportunity Florida has announced that, due to an expected attrition of at least 50 percent of trained workers in the utility field over the next five years, training dollars are available through Workforce Florida for jobs in this sector.   The jobs are high paying, with good security and due to their on-the-spot needs are never out-sourced overseas.

Up to $500,000 will be made available for training new and existing employees in the utility industry for jobs in rural counties.  Training includes those associated with energy, alternative energy, water, wastewater, solar, photovoltaic and other occupations identified as critical to the utility industry.

Utility providers throughout the state say many of their employees will be reaching retirement age within the next several years.   Unfortunately, they don't have enough skilled workers coming up behind these employees to fill all the vacant job openings.

"In just a few years, we will be coming to a point where many of our experienced long-term employees will reach retirement age," said Gary Clark, West Florida Electric Cooperative, "These are high-paying jobs that need skilled, highly trained people.  We need to start now to prevent a shortage of these workers in the future."

The training is part of an initiative targeting rural areas that are not taking full advantage of the funding available through Workforce Florida's Quick Response Training Program.   The program is designed to meet the workforce-skill needs of expanding, new and existing industries.

For more information about this program and others available through the state of Florida, please contact Opportunity Florida at 850-718-0453.   Your business may be eligible for funding.