“We need more work force development,” said Tony Villamil of Washington Economics Group. “If you look at education spending, K [kindergarten] through 12th grade and in higher education, we are decreasing … so we are not creating the supply of skilled labor we need.”

Bruce Foerster, of South Beach Capital Advisory Corp., said upgraded public education must become a political priority or South Florida will fail to fully capitalize on its prominence as an international business center.