The Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin metropolitan area has earned national recognition as the fifth-best region in the country for attracting and developing a skilled workforce among large metro areas, according to the 2025 Talent Attraction Scorecard released by Lightcast.

• The area excelled particularly in attracting working-age professionals, placing second in prime-age population growth and fifth in attracting high earners. The region also ranked 11th in overall job growth and 13th in blue-collar job growth.

“I’m thrilled, but not surprised, to see that Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin ranked number 5 in the nation,” said Ted Corcoran, CEO of the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce. “The business community is strong and continuing to grow, while also strengthening partnerships with our local military, creating more opportunities right here in Okaloosa County. Not only is our membership up, but we are seeing more new business come into the community.”

Strategic infrastructure investments pay off

The recognition comes after years of strategic planning and investment by local leaders. 

Okaloosa Commission Chairman Paul Mixon said the county identified workforce growth opportunities early and implemented comprehensive plans.

• “The County identified opportunities for workforce growth years ago and implemented plans to acquire property and the appropriate infrastructure to attract businesses to Okaloosa County,” Mixon said. “This, along with tax incentives has attracted a lot of interest from prospective companies looking to plant roots in our community. One great example of this are the advancements that we are seeing at the Shoal River Industrial Park east of Crestview.”

Those investments are generating major returns. Williams International recently announced a $1 billion investment to build a plant at the Shoal River Industrial Park that will employ over 300 individuals with high-paying wages while supporting nearby military missions. The project ranks among the largest investments in Northwest Florida history.

Military advantage drives business decisions

Nathan Sparks, Executive Director of One Okaloosa Economic Development Council, said workforce quality consistently ranks as the top consideration for businesses evaluating the area.

“Without exception, workforce quality and availability is always #1 or #2 in terms of overall importance to our clients – whether they are existing businesses considering an expansion or businesses that we are working to recruit to the area,” Sparks said. “If you go down the list of our recent successes – Williams, Gulf Air Group, PMI, Central Moloney, Boeing – every single one of them required assurances of our community’s ability to either attract, provide or train the employees they require.”

The area’s unique military presence provides a significant competitive advantage. Sparks pointed to the “significant number” of technically trained military members who choose to remain in the area and enter the private sector workforce once they transition out of the service.

“We are absolutely seeing increased interest from companies looking to take advantage of the skilled workforce that emerges from our local educational institutions and nearby Eglin Air Force Base,” Mixon added. “Okaloosa County is becoming a prime location for both job seekers and job creators.”

Education pipeline prepares tomorrow’s workforce

The ranking showcases strong collaboration between educational institutions at all levels in support of a broader state goal. 

• As Governor Ron DeSantis noted when announcing Florida’s third consecutive year as the nation’s top performer, “Florida set an ambitious goal to be number one in workforce education by 2030—and we continue to march towards this achievement.”

Okaloosa Superintendent Marcus Chambers emphasized how local Career and Technical Education programs are expanding to meet evolving industry needs and contribute to that statewide objective.

“Expanding our workforce and college readiness programs is central to our innovation,” Chambers said. “Our Career and Technical Education programs continue to grow, providing cutting-edge training in fields like Artificial Intelligence, Applied Robotics, Advanced Manufacturing, Construction, Automotive, Nursing, and Engineering. In partnership with Okaloosa Technical College and local industry leaders, we equip students with the skills and certifications they need to thrive.”

Northwest Florida State College President Mel Ponder said the institution is proud to contribute to the state’s workforce development success under Governor Ron DeSantis’ leadership.

“At Northwest Florida State College, we are proud to be part of this momentum of transforming lives by offering high-impact programs in nursing, welding, aviation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and more—each designed to equip students with the skills needed for high-demand, high-wage careers,” Ponder said. “We remain committed to training the next generation of professionals who will continue to drive our region and Florida’s economy forward.”

Earlier this month, NWFSC opened its new $34 million School of Nursing building designed to double the college’s nursing enrollment by 2026, and has grown their Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Program.

Sparks credited the collaborative approach involving multiple educational partners for the area’s success.

• “I believe that the purposeful emphasis that One Okaloosa and our many partners have placed on preparing young people for the ‘careers of tomorrow’ is a huge factor,” he said.

National recognition enhances recruitment efforts

For economic development professionals, the Lightcast ranking provides valuable third-party validation when courting prospective businesses.

This will be another tool for Sparks. 

“Any time you have an unbiased, respected third party like Lightcast release accolades like this, decision makers tend to take notice,” Sparks said. “The community presentation that we utilize in discussions with our prospects includes a number of these third party accolades, and we look forward to adding this one.”

Sparks noted that the ranking considers multiple factors including job growth, wage growth and the average age of the workforce, which is among the youngest in Florida. “It can certainly be viewed as a good indicator of our overall economic health,” he said.

Sustained team effort needed

Looking ahead, local leaders emphasize that maintaining this momentum requires continued collaboration across sectors.

“We are pleased to receive this kind of recognition and proud to contribute to the state’s success,” Mixon said. “The County and our partners have been working hard to attract the right businesses and educational opportunities to create a more skilled workforce. Ranking high in the state is a great success and we must build upon this to continue our efforts for a higher-skilled, higher paid workforce.”

Mixon stressed that success depends on partnership, and that improving the workforce in Okaloosa County “is a team effort.” 

• “We cannot make progress without the work of One Okaloosa EDC, our state legislators and community partners,” he said. “The County will continue to use the tools that have allowed us to get to this point and we will always be exploring new strategies that keep us moving in the right direction.”

Chambers echoed the collaborative theme, noting partnerships with One Okaloosa EDC in “building a pipeline from the classroom to careers, preparing our graduates to lead in a competitive global economy.”

The national ranking places Okaloosa County among Florida’s seven top-performing large metropolitan areas, contributing to the state’s third consecutive year as the nation’s top performer for workforce attraction and development.