EVOLVE Business and Entrepreneur Magazine Space Coast Region, Q3 2026 - From Cradle to Career: The Talent Pipeline Issue | Page 34

FROM CRADLE TO CAREER: The Numbers That Shape Our Region ' s Future

The workforce we will need in the future is being shaped right now— in homes, neighborhoods, early learning centers and classrooms across the North Central region. From early childhood conditions to K-12 outcomes to workforce demand, the data is clear: investment at every stage of the talent pipeline is a regional economic imperative.
Early Childhood Children living in poverty & kindergarten readiness rates
ST. JOHNS

6.5 %

children in poverty( 4,271 children)

58 %

kindergarten readiness
FLAGLER

16.8 %

children in poverty( 3,307 children)

37 %

kindergarten readiness
VOLUSIA

16.2 %

children in poverty( 16,024 children)

46 %

kindergarten readiness
BREVARD

13.9 %

children in poverty( 15,666 children)

52 %

kindergarten readiness
2030 goal: less than 10 % of children in poverty • 100 % kindergarten-ready
K-12 Education 3rd grade reading, 8th grade math proficiency & high school graduation rates
ST. JOHNS

78 %

3rd grade reading at / above grade level

84 %

8th grade math proficiency

97.1 %

high school graduation rate
FLAGLER

66 %

3rd grade reading at / above grade level

69 %

8th grade math proficiency

89.5 %

high school graduation rate
VOLUSIA

61 %

3rd grade reading at / above grade level

61 %

8th grade math proficiency

95.6 %

high school graduation rate
BREVARD

63 %

3rd grade reading at / above grade level

67 %

8th grade math proficiency

92.7 %

high school graduation rate
2030 goal: 100 % reading and math proficiency • 95 % graduation rate
2030 Workforce Net new jobs needed by 2030 & current unemployment rates
ST. JOHNS

26,073

net new jobs needed by 2030

4.6 %

unemployment rate
FLAGLER

7,524

net new jobs needed by 2030

5.4 %

unemployment rate
VOLUSIA

19,752

net new jobs needed by 2030

4.6 %

unemployment rate
BREVARD

21,881

net new jobs needed by 2030

4.7 %

unemployment rate
Combined, these four counties need 75,200 + net new jobs by 2030.
| 32 | EVOLVE MAGAZINE | Evolve2Succeed. com
Data sourced from The Florida Scorecard, a Florida Chamber Foundation tool, on August 4, 2026. The Scorecard tracks county-level progress across education, workforce and quality of life indicators in support of Florida ' s 2030 goals. Visit thefloridascorecard. org for more information.