Some parts of Central Florida’s

technology sector are hindered by a gap between the workforce companies need and people with the necessary skills to fill them, leaders say.

A gap between the workforce companies need and people with the necessary skills to fill them continues to hinder some parts of Central Florida’s tech sector, leaders say as they express hope to build the region into an innovation hub.

However, the deficiency can benefit from more people talking about it honestly, tech entrepreneur Angela Alban said.

“Previously, it probably was not much of a consistent priority,” said Alban, whose Orlando-based Simetri company builds realistic mannequins for military and medical training. “Now, there is a moreconsistent conversation about the importance of establishing and sustaining STEM programs from kindergarten through 12th grade.”

As technology disrupts more industries, a frantic effort has been launched in most major cities to create a workforce to fill those jobs as fast as they are created or become vacant. The workforce shortage has been seen in several industries, including space, manufacturing and transportation.

Last year, the National Federation of Independent Business reported that 45 percent of small businesses had trouble finding qualified applicants for their job openings. As the disruptions grow, creating the workforce to fill those jobs has become a priority.

Without a sufficient workforce, some businesses could potentially delay growth, said Tim Giuliani, Orlando Economic Partnership president and CEO.

“There is a skills gap and that is a challenge,” he said. Businesses “are only going to expand as fast as they can find the people they need.”

Giuliani made his remarks at a panel discussion Tuesday about the growing digital economy and how businesses can work with schools to address the shortage.

“We are making sure we put individuals close to university research in order to shorten the time between idea and impact,” said Dale Whittaker, who will take over as the president of University of Central Florida on July 1.

But it will take more than educational buy-in to build momentum in Central Florida, Alban said.

The region must build an environment that makes engineers who move to the region want to stay here.

“Retention will become more of a challenge when there are so many opportunities in the same ZIP code,” she said. “You have to show them a path that will lead to them living a life here that appeals to them.”

That’s something Lockheed Martin is doing.

During the last several years, the company has introduced a flexible schedule and adoption of 9-80 workweeks, which results in an extra day off every two weeks.

The company, which employs about 7,000 in Central Florida, has one added advantage, said Fred Ross, vice president of program management.

“We are challenging other commercial space entities on who will go to Mars first,” he said. “That attracts top talent.”