Impact Dashboard

This is the percentage of workers in our region that have the credentials necessary to fill in-demand jobs. To fill in-demand jobs, working-age adults must have college degrees, workforce certificates, industry certifications and other high-quality credentials. To increase this percentage, we have to look at everything from early childhood learning to post-high school education and everything in-between. We also have to remove education barriers and create a culture of career exploration and aspiration from an early age.

As of 2022, Southwest Florida needs to add 67,911 skilled workers to achieve the 55% goal.

Kindergarten readiness refers to a child’s ability to enter kindergarten with the skills, knowledge, and emotional maturity needed to succeed in a structured learning environment. It encompasses a variety of developmental areas, including cognitive, social, emotional, physical, and language skills, that prepare children to thrive in school. Kindergarten readiness is crucial for setting children up for long-term success in school and in life.

As of Fall 2022, Southwest Florida needs 5,745 more test takers to be ready for kindergarten to achieve the 100% target.

The high school graduation rate refers to the percentage of students who successfully completed their high school education within a set period, typically within four years of entering 9th grade. This rate can vary by location, demographic group, and type of school. High school graduation rates are a vital indicator of the health of an education system and its ability to prepare young people for success in adulthood. A high graduation rate is linked to positive outcomes for individuals and society, including better economic opportunities, reduced socioeconomic disparities, and stronger communities.

As of the 2023 academic year, Southwest Florida needs 1,700 more students to graduate from high school to meet the 90% target.

Third-grade reading proficiency is a critical milestone in a child’s educational development, laying the groundwork for future learning and success. It’s a key indicator of academic achievement and can significantly impact a student’s trajectory throughout their education. Ensuring that children reach reading proficiency by the third grade is considered a key measure of educational effectiveness and a critical step in addressing achievement gaps. As such, third grade reading proficiency is often a focus of early intervention programs, curriculum adjustments, and targeted support strategies to help struggling readers catch up before they fall too far behind.

As of the 2024 academic year, Southwest Florida needs 4,347 more third graders reading at proficiency level to reach the 85% target.

The FAFSA Completion Rate refers to the percentage of students who successfully complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form is essential for determining eligibility for federal financial aid for college or vocational school. The completion rate is often tracked by individual high schools, states, and federal agencies to assess how many students are taking the necessary steps to apply for financial aid.

For high schools, the FAFSA completion rate can be a measure of how well students are being prepared for post-secondary education and whether they are accessing financial aid resources. Higher completion rates generally indicate that more students are taking advantage of financial support opportunities, which can reduce barriers to higher education and potential debt associated with education after high school.

FAFSA completion declined significantly in the fall of 2022, which is also when the region was impacted by Hurricane Ian and the FAFSA form was changed and delayed. Southwest Florida needs 2,110 more students to complete the FAFSA to achieve the 100% target.

Technical college enrollment refers to the process of students applying to and being admitted into technical colleges, which focus on career-oriented education. These institutions provide specialized training in various fields, including healthcare, engineering, IT, trades, and business, with programs often leading to certifications, diplomas, or associate degrees. Technical college enrollment plays a crucial role in preparing students for meaningful careers while meeting labor market demands and supporting economic development.

This indicator decreased significantly in the Fall of 2022 after making its largest increase in 2021. Several schools saw declines in the Fall of 2022, which is also when the region was significantly impacted by Hurricane Ian.

Postsecondary completion refers to successfully finishing an education or training program beyond high school, such as a college degree, vocational certification, or similar qualifications. These programs are offered by institutions like universities and community colleges. Postsecondary completion is a key driver for personal and societal advancement, providing individuals with the tools to succeed in a knowledge-driven economy.

As of 2022, Southwest Florida needs an additional 2,467 students to complete post-secondary education in 150 percent of normal time.

Technical college completion refers to successfully finishing a program or earning a degree, diploma, or certificate from a technical or vocational college. These institutions provide specialized education and training focused on equipping students with the practical skills and knowledge needed for specific careers, often in fields such as healthcare, manufacturing, IT, automotive repair, culinary arts, and more. Completing technical college is vital for individuals seeking to build rewarding careers and for society, as it supports economic development and workforce competitiveness.

The number of startup businesses in a region is an important metric because it serves as a key indicator of economic vitality, innovation, and the overall health of the local business ecosystem.

These data points are a preliminary attempt to describe the current Southwest Florida entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Data & Reporting Team is continuing to explore the available data sources to determine the best methods to estimate the Resilience & Diversification Team outcomes.

Employment share by industry refers to the percentage of the total workforce employed in specific economic sectors or industries. It provides insight into the composition of a country’s labor market and highlights which industries are the most significant employers. The employment share by industry is an essential economic indicator because it provides insights into the structure, health, and dynamics of an economy.

These data points are a preliminary attempt to describe the current Southwest Florida entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Data & Reporting Team is continuing to explore the available data sources to determine the best methods to estimate the Resilience & Diversification Team outcomes.

Average annual wages refer to the mean yearly income earned by workers in a specific group, industry, region, or country. This metric is typically calculated by dividing the total wages paid to all workers in a defined group by the number of workers in that group. Average annual wages are an indicator of economic mobility.

The unemployment rate is a key economic indicator that measures the percentage of the labor force that is unemployed and actively seeking work during a specific period. By monitoring this rate, economists, policymakers, and businesses can better understand labor market trends and overall economic conditions.

Tracking the median rental cost in the region is crucial to understanding housing affordability and whether we’re meeting the coalition’s goal. If rental prices are rising faster than incomes, it pushes more households into cost-burdened situations, where they spend more than 30% of their income on rent. Monitoring the median rental cost helps us assess whether there is enough housing available at many price levels and guides our efforts to increase the supply of attainable rentals, ensuring we stay on track toward our broader affordability goals.

Tracking the percentage of people who are cost burdened—those spending more than 30% of their income on housing—is crucial because it highlights how many families are struggling with the high cost of living. When a large portion of their income goes to housing, other essential parts of the family budget, like healthcare, food, education, and transportation, often get squeezed. This financial strain can lead to difficult trade-offs, such as skipping medical care or forgoing healthy meals to make rent. Since our coalition’s goal is to ensure that 80% of people in Southwest Florida can afford both housing and transportation without exceeding 45% of their income, tracking this metric helps us see how rising housing costs ripple through a family’s entire budget. By addressing housing affordability, we also improve families’ ability to meet their other basic needs and achieve financial stability.

Tracking the mean travel time to work is important because it provides insight into how much time people in our region spend commuting, which directly impacts their quality of life and overall affordability. Long commutes can lead to higher transportation costs, more stress, and less time for family, and other activities. For our coalition’s goal of ensuring that housing and transportation costs together don’t exceed 45% of income, reducing commute times can play a key role. If people have to travel long distances to get to work, they often end up spending more on gas, car maintenance, or public transportation, which puts a strain on their budgets. By monitoring travel times, we can better understand whether people are living near their jobs or if housing affordability is pushing them farther away, leading to higher costs and less time for daily well-being.

Tracking the median home sale price is important because it helps us understand whether homeownership is attainable for families in our region and how it impacts our coalition’s goal of ensuring that housing and transportation costs remain below 45% of household income. If home sale prices rise faster than incomes, fewer people can afford to buy homes, pushing more families into renting and increasing pressure on the rental market. By monitoring the median home sale price, we can assess whether homeownership remains within reach for a broad range of income levels and identify where more attainable housing is needed to keep housing costs manageable for the community.

Tracking the total cost to own and operate a car is essential because transportation costs make up a significant portion of many families’ budgets, especially in regions like ours, where public transit is limited. This includes expenses like gas, maintenance, insurance, and vehicle payments, all of which can add up quickly. To meet our coalition’s goal, keeping car ownership costs manageable is critical. When families spend too much on their cars, it leaves less room in their budget for housing and other essential needs. By monitoring these costs, we can better understand how transportation affordability affects overall financial stability.

This refers to the rate of deaths from suicide per 100,000 in Southwest Florida.

As of 2022, there were 19.28 deaths from suicide per 100,000. To achieve our goal of 12.8, 94 fewer individuals would die by suicide per year.

This rate refers to the number of marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, and mental health counselors with active licenses in Florida. While other behavioral healthcare professionals, such as psychologists or school psychologists, are not included in this measure, it provides a helpful measure in understanding how workforce may be impacting the region’s access to behavioral health services.

As of FY 21-22, Southwest Florida had a rate of 88.3 behavioral health professionals/100,000 residents. To reach our target rate of 188.5 regionally, we need to add 1,450 more active licensed professionals.

This metric refers to the percentage of pregnant people initiating prenatal care at a known point during pregnancy, whether in the first, second, or third trimester.

As of fall 2022, 91.4% of pregnant people began prenatal care at a known trimester during their pregnancy. This means that our region falls within the 4th quartile (i.e., the least favorable), showcasing room for growth to reach our target of being within the 1st quartile (i.e., 95.33%-98.65%) To reach our goal of 95.33%, an additional 493 more pregnant people would need to initiate prenatal care during a known trimester.

This refers to high school students who have experienced at least one adverse childhood experiences (ACE). Examples of ACEs include:

• Witnessing violence in the home or community
• Experiencing physical or sexual abuse
• Living in poverty
• Parental mental illness
• Discrimination
• Substance use disorder or incarceration

As of 2022, the weighted average for Southwest Florida was 25.2% of high school students experienced four or more ACEs. To reach our goal of 19.6%, 3,231 fewer high school students experience less than four ACEs.

This percentile indicates where our region ranks nationally in terms of babies born in our region with a birthweight less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces, also known as being born premature. Some premature babies are born to perfectly healthy mothers. But it is also a complex public-health problem that can be caused by long-term maternal malnutrition, ill health, hard work, poor health care during pregnancy and much more. Ultimately, the “Live Births with Low Birthweight” percentile gives us a glimpse into maternal health, nutrition, healthcare delivery and poverty in our region.

Mammography screenings refer to the percentage of female Medicare enrollees ages 65-74 who received an annual mammography screening.

As of fall 2022, 52.8% of female Medicare enrollees received a mammography screening in Southwest Florida. To reach our target of 80.3%, 31,608 more Medicare enrollees need to be screened annually for mammograms.

*In 2023, Healthy People 2030 updated their target to include 50–64-year-olds and exclude those with a history of breast cancer. That data has not yet been collected.

Sedentary adults’ percentage refers to adults aged 18+ who self-report no leisure time physical activity within the past month. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, physical activity enhances overall health by improving cardio-respiratory and muscular fitness, while reducing the risk of serious health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers and obesity and premature death. Beyond individual well-being, an active lifestyle contributes to sustainability by lowering healthcare costs and supporting the economy.

As of fall 2022, 27% of adults reported no leisure physical activity. Southwest Florida needs 81,800 more adults to change their sedentary lifestyle to one that has some physical activity to meet our target of 20%

Food security rate refers to the proportion of children in Southwest Florida with consistent access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food.

As of fall 2022, 82.2% of children in Southwest Florida were food secure. To reach our target of 100%, 40,950 more children would need to be food secure.

This metric refers to students that self-reported they were physically active for at least 60 minutes on all seven of the past seven days.

As of fall 2022, 19.6% of middle and high school students self-reported they were physically active for at least 60 minutes on all seven of the past seven days in Southwest Florida. Southwest Florida needs 14,859 more middle and high school students to be physically active to meet our target of 30.6%.

Food security rate refers to the percentage of overall residents in Southwest Florida with consistent access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food.

As of fall 2022, 87.3% of residents in Southwest Florida were food secure. To reach our target of 100%, 177,770 more individuals would need to be food secure.

The percentage of the population with access to a healthy food source is measured by those living within half a mile of a food source.

As of fall 2022, 19.8% of Southwest Florida’s population met this criterion. To achieve our target of 33%, an additional 190,702 more individuals would need to reside within a half mile of a healthy food source.

This tracks the average number of mentally unhealthy days reported by individuals in the past 30 days. This percentile indicates where our region ranks nationally. Poor mental health can be caused by depression, anxiety, stress and much more. And these conditions can, in turn, result from a broad range of things, from people with disabilities and people living with chronic conditions, to childhood abuse, social disadvantages and discrimination. Ultimately, regions with more unhealthy days are likely to have higher unemployment, poverty, percentage of adults who did not complete high school, mortality rates, and higher rates of disability.

This percentile indicates where our region ranks nationally in terms of adults in our region who rate their health as poor or fair. It is an indicator of the level of disability or chronic disease in our region. It can also indicate unhealthy lifestyle habits. Beyond the obvious, poor health can also contribute to reduced income and a vicious cycle called the health-poverty trap—a self-reinforcing cycle of poverty. There are countless other chain reactions caused by “Poor or Fair Health” affecting a very broad range of quality-of-life factors in our region.

This tracks the average number of physically unhealthy days reported by individuals in the past 30 days. This percentile indicates where our region ranks nationally. People with chronic physical illness often have difficulties maintaining a job, and as a result, have a hard time affording care. So “Poor Physical Health Days” can lead to financial burden and, for example, lead to a decrease in how much someone can afford to purchase healthy food, housing, and transportation.

This tracks the ratio of the population to mental health providers. Evaluating this indicator is crucial as it provides direct insight into the accessibility of mental health services within our community. Based on data provided by County Health Rankings, in the year 2022, the ratio of the population to mental health providers in Southwest Florida was 863:1.

Developmental Target: addresses an important health issue that lacks a reliable target, with the target still in the developmental phase.

Uninsured population under 65 refers to the percentage of the population under 65 years old who is uninsured in Southwest Florida.

As of fall 2022, 19.2 percent of individuals were uninsured. To reach our goal of 7.6%, 110,328 more individuals would need to be insured.

This percentile indicates where our region ranks nationally in terms of years of potential life lost before the age of 75. In some cases, premature deaths are simply tragic, unavoidable accidents. But in other cases, they are caused by things such as treatable diseases, cancer, and preventable accidents. The “Premature Deaths” metric gives us insight into areas we need to improve in our region from nutrition, healthcare delivery and disease research to public safety, suicide rate and transportation.