Every job has its skills needed to succeed, but a new report from Florida Gulf Coast University says some workers could be missing out. 

The school looked at more than 40 thousand job postings and what employers thought they were missing from candidates. 

“They are just missing that final link to really be on that career path. So I think that’s where it’s interesting that we saw this basic skill that tells a lot about what Southwest Florida is becoming and who we are attracting,” said Director of the Regional Economic Research Institute at FGCU Amir Neto. 

The goal is to bridge skill gaps in the pipeline in hiring candidates. 

“I feel like the younger you are, the more in-tune you are with like the use of technology or the use of resources around you,” said Lee County Schools Kindergarten teacher Morgan Thompson.  

She says even after five years of teaching, her own learning doesn’t stop. 

“And I feel like colleges are picking up more on like the different trend things out there,” she said. 

FGCU’s recent analysis of the Equitable Jobs Pipeline shows there are many skills lacking from potential employees. 

The study is part of a $22.9 million grant through the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Good Jobs Challenge. The university partnered with FutureMakers Coalition at Collaboratory for the research project to assist employers in filling in-demand positions in Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties. 

See the study results here.

“We know that there are workers out there,” said Neto. “But they are missing something.” 

 The study looked at job postings in education, healthcare, manufacturing and logistics, as well as the top skills wanted on resumes. 

For education, in nearly a thousand job postings from February 2022 to April 2023: 

466 jobs wanted communication skills, but only 383 workforce profiles matched. Similarly, skills with student information systems showed up in 109 job listings, but only 14 matched. 

On top of the skills already needed for those roles, some need even more teaching certifications.

Jackie Villa, a Lee County Kindergarten teacher explains how extra qualifications like teaching English as a second language, also need to be kept up with.

“Like our community I think is 80% Hispanic. So, and a lot of them come in not knowing any English. So it’s nice seeing that effect that you have on the students,” said Villa. 

“We are trying to meet the needs in the region,” explained Neto. “Health care becomes a really important part.”  

Out of nearly 30 thousand job listings in the last year, healthcare saw even bigger gaps in skills. Including a “desperate need to bridge the language gap.”

“We have so much of a draw of an immigrant population there that is well educated, that have nursing and doctorate degrees,” Neto said. “It’s not about speaking English. It’s about speaking that technical English.” 

FGCU partners and the Futuremakers Coalition are now in the process of using the data to craft curriculums and other special training.