CareerSource Southwest Florida Receives A+ Performance Letter Grade from the State

Fort Myers, FL — CareerSource Southwest Florida (www.careersourceSWFL.com) — recently received its annual “letter grade” of an A+, from the CareerSource Florida Board of Directors.  Letter grades are assigned on an annual basis once the program year has ended and all program year data is finalized.

CareerSource regions throughout the state received letter grades for only the second time since the inception of the Reimagining Education and Career Help (REACH) Act in 2021. Designed to provide a baseline measurement to help identify areas in which they excel and areas that can be strengthened to improve outcomes for job seekers, workers, and businesses, the letter grades are among several components of the REACH Act to provide greater transparency and accountability in Florida’s workforce and education systems.

Developed by the Governor’s Office of Reimagining Education and Career Help (REACH), the criteria for the letter grades are, in part, based on local board performance on accountability measures and return on investment, per s. 14.36, Florida Statutes. As required by the REACH Act, the majority of the grade is based on the improvement by each local workforce development board in the long-term self-sufficiency of participants through outcome measures such as reduction in long-term public assistance and the percentage of participants whose wages were higher after program completion compared to wages before participation in a program.

Targets

In consultation with CareerSource Florida and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, the REACH Office set the targets for each metric using historical performance data to test the letter grades methodology and the results are analyzed by an interagency workgroup. Adjustments are made as needed to ensure fair, attainable goals with room for continuous improvement.

Metrics

Florida’s letter grades for local workforce development boards include seven core metrics and one extra credit metric focused on employment services, training services, business services, and economic self-sufficiency. The metrics were developed with these Guiding Principles in collaboration with an interagency workgroup and feedback from local workforce development boards. In the spirit of continuous improvement, these metrics will be tracked and analyzed on a continuous basis and may be adjusted to reflect evolving economic conditions and state priorities.

Metrics used in the calculation of letter grades include how well local workforce development boards are meeting federal accountability measures, how many job seekers served receive work-related training, how many participants earn more in the second quarter after receiving workforce services, how many employers are returning customers for business services, and the reduction in the number of participants on long-term public assistance.

“We are extremely pleased that the hard work and dedication of our entire CareerSource Southwest Florida staff has been recognized and has received such an exceptional performance review and letter grade. Our entire five-county team is committed to fulfilling our mission of providing exceptional service to our individual customers – whether they are looking to find a new career or seek training in a new field – and matching our business partners with exceptional employees. Together, we are working to do our part to ensure that the Southwest Florida job market continues to not only strengthen and flourish but remain a progressive leader in workforce development,” says Peg Elmore, President and CEO of CareerSource Southwest Florida.

ABOUT CAREERSOURCE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

CareerSource Southwest Florida is the leader in workforce development. CareerSource Southwest Florida funds training and provides placement services for job seekers and businesses all at no cost to the participants.  With centers in Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee Counties, trained staff is dedicated to connecting employers with qualified and skilled talent and job seekers with employment and career development opportunities – www.careersoourceSWFL.com.