The OEP was selected as one of only 12 organizations nationwide to join the Jobs for the Future’s Inquiry into Building Regional Skills First Ecosystems initiative
The Orlando Economic Partnership (OEP) has been selected by Jobs for the Future (JFF) to receive funding through its Inquiry into Building Regional Skills-First Ecosystems initiative, which will use community-informed insights and ideas to lay the foundation for support for regional, skills-based economies.
As one of 12 regionally based organizations participating nationwide, OEP will partner with JFF and local stakeholders across Central Florida to examine the conditions, opportunities, and challenges involved in advancing skills-based talent management practices and building a robust and responsive skills-first ecosystem across the region.
Through this initiative, which is made possible through generous support from Walmart, OEP will engage cross-sector partners from education, workforce, industry, and community organizations to learn more about their activities, resources, and needs for advancing skills-based practices.
JFF defines skills-based talent management as an approach that prioritizes demonstrated skills—rather than degrees or traditional credentials—as the primary currency for hiring, advancement, and talent development.
A skills-first labor market or ecosystem is one where employers, educators, workforce systems, and policymakers are aligned around valuing, developing, and signaling skills, supported by digital tools, data infrastructure, and policies that make skills visible, portable, and trusted across systems.
During the first half of 2026, community-driven insights will inform an actionable set of next steps for making skills-first strategies a reality in the region. If selected to proceed to the Implementation Phase of this effort, additional funding and support will be provided by JFF to begin putting these action plans into practice to strengthen pathways to quality jobs and more inclusive economic opportunity.
This effort will be informed by insights from the OEP Closing the Gap: 2025 Orlando Talent Report, which highlights misalignment between the skills employers need and how talent is currently prepared, identified, and connected to available roles across Central Florida. The findings underscore the opportunity for employers to benefit from skills‑first practices that expand access to qualified talent, improve hiring efficiency, and better align workforce strategies with real business needs.