With Labor Shortages, Call Local Businesses to Unite
Shumaker is a proud sponsor of Future Career Academy
TAMPA, Fl – As labor shortages continue to be an issue, a local organization’s innovative program is spurring area businesses to unite. The Future Career Academy, a program of Florida-based non-profit Workforce Development Partners, is asking companies to sign up now to help sponsor events to recruit local students and adults to start careers in Tampa Bay. Shumaker is proud to be one of those sponsors.
“We believe the Tampa Bay business community can tackle any challenge if we all work together,” Sandy Murman, Shumaker Advisors Principal, said. “Having a strong workforce is critical to our local economy. At Shumaker, we strive to be difference makers and the Future Career Academy is a cause that can really make an impact.”
The Future Career Academy works with area high school seniors to introduce them to employment and training opportunities right here in our community. In addition to a classroom curriculum focused on workforce development, students also heard from business panels featuring key business leaders, and more than 700 students participated in field trips to area businesses to meet owners and employees, learn about the industry, business operations, entry level jobs, and career growth opportunities. These hiring events are the next step in setting up students for success, and will be held on the following dates:
- April 13 at TPepin’s Hospitality Centre (East Tampa – Armwood, King and Middleton High Schools)
- April 20 at The Regent (South Hillsborough – Newsome, East Bay and Lennard High Schools)
- April 28 at HCC’s Trinkle Center (Plant City – Plant City, Durant and Strawberry Crest High Schools, and Simmons Career Acceleration Academy.
In addition to students, the fairs will be open each day from 12- 2pm for adult job-seekers as part of Best Florida Jobs, which will help round out the hiring needs of businesses and serve both students’ families and the community’s hiring needs. Local businesses that are hiring are encouraged to sign up now to participate in these events. Businesses can sign up and register by visiting the Future Career Academy’s website.
“Support from our local business community is crucial to the success of the Future Career Academy,” said Yvonne Fry, CEO of Workforce Development Partners, the Florida-based non-profit behind both FCA and Best Florida Jobs. “We need to invest in retaining our local workforce now more than ever as we continue to see the challenges of this historic labor shortage.”
As a sign of FCA’s impact, the Future Fairs will be followed by three Signing Days in May to celebrate the FCA students who have been hired by local companies or who are entering into training or apprenticeship programs.
Labor force participation is at the lowest level since the 1970s. The pandemic boosted retirements by one million workers, whileanother 2 million women are estimated to have stopped working. The Future Academy is strategically partnering with schools and businesses to fill this gap.
FCA is positioned to serve between 5,000-7,000 students in the 2021-2022 school year. Continued expansion plans to serve the whole county are underway for implementation in the next few years.