Week of December 15, 2011
| Miami-Dade employers look to add jobs, not cut By Scott BlakeThe number of employers who expect to hire more workers in Miami-Dade County in coming years far exceeds those who expect to cut staffing, a new survey has found. About 39.1% anticipate increasing local employment, compared with 6.1% who expect to decrease local employment in the next five years, according to a nonscientific voluntary survey of 866 business managers and owners commissioned by the Beacon Council, Miami-Dade's economic development organization. Also, 29.4% said they expect to maintain their staffing levels over the next five years, while 17.9% said they weren't sure about their staffing outlook. The skills most needed by Miami-Dade employers of all sizes were information technology skills (15%), English language skills (13%), and reading and writing skills (11%). Among companies with 250 or more employees, the most-sought skills were information technology (18.3%), finance and business skills (11.7%), and science and engineering skills (11.7%). Why do companies move to Miami-Dade? About 40% cited geographical location, followed by 29.5% for the area's diverse, international population and 9.9% for lifestyle amenities. The least likely reasons to do business here: a skilled workforce (2.9%), a strong industrial/supplier base (2.2%), and a business-friendly regulatory climate (2.2%). In addition, the survey drew responses from more than 3,600 residents and others. Asked to rate their satisfaction with categories of living in Miami-Dade on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 the highest rating, people said they are most satisfied with the area's colleges and universities (3.9), climate (3.9), image of the region as a visitor destination (3.8) and entertainment and recreation offerings (3.8). To read the entire issue of Miami Today online, subscribe to e -Miami Today, an exact digital replica of the printed edition. |
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