< Previous78 TEXAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE Institute for Foundations of Machine Learning (IFML) and TACC’s Frontera, the most powerful supercomputer at a U.S. university. Accessible and Affordable Opportunities As new programs pop up throughout the state, the THECB has promptly been working on multiple initiatives to increase the number of Texans completing degree and certification programs. Recognizing the importance of this mission, Texas lawmakers made historic investments in higher education during the last legislative session totaling more than $5 billion to be dispersed over the next two years. Last June, several of the bills that were passed focused on making postsecondary attainment more accessible and affordable. “Even if we succeed in building more world-class educational programs that align with emerging workforce needs, if students can’t take advantage of those programs because of financial barriers, then we won’t have the educated workforce we need,” says Commissioner Keller. Multiple scholarship programs, including the Texas Leadership Scholars initiative and the Texas First Program, received an influx of funding. Legislators also chose to prohibit undergraduate tuition and fees from increasing for both the 2023-24 and 2024-25 academic years. The affordability money was tied to tenure reform as well as legislation prohibiting diversity, equity and inclusion offices in public higher education institutions. One of the most significant pieces of legislature from the 88th session includes House Bill 8 (HB 8), which is set to redesign the funding model for Texas’ 50 community colleges districts. Instead of measuring success based on enrollment, the new standard will reward institutions for awarding degrees and certificates in high-demand fields, students transferring to four-year universities and dual enrollment participation from high school students. It also seeks to foster transparency regarding jobs and salary prospects. University of Texas at Austin Photo: Getty ImagesTEXAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE 79 A Head Start on Higher Ed To continue this mission of increasing the transparency and accessibility of information on jobs and education requirements, the THECB launched My Texas Future, an interactive career and program exploration platform, in August 2023. Commissioner Keller describes the platform as a “one-stop-shop”, where students can efficiently research careers and identify in-demand, high-paying jobs and affordable higher education programs in their region. He also revealed that the THECB plans to deploy a new feature this summer that will allow users to submit applications for higher ed programs in “just a few clicks.” “We’ve done a lot of work at the intersection of high school and higher education,” says Commissoner Keller. “As part of the legislation around community college finance, the legislature created a new financial aid program for students in dual enrollment programs that enables students who qualify for free or reduced lunch in high school to take dual enrollment courses at no cost.” The Financial Aid for Swift Transfer (FAST) Scholarship was established through the passing of HB 8. In addition to participating in the classes free of charge, all credits earned can be transferred and applied to degree programs at any public colleges or universities in the state. In addition to traditional dual credit classes, the THECB is gearing up to release materials for a new dual enrollment option next fall. “These are called College Connect Courses,” says Commissioner Keller. “We’ve sponsored the development of resources by UT Austin, Texas A&M and Rice University, working in partnership with other institutions, including community colleges, to develop resources that can be deployed in dual credit courses for students that might not quite be college ready around certain topics. “We’re excited about the potential for this work to scale,” he says, “and help many more students be competitive and college ready when they arrive on college campuses.” 80 TEXAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE WORKFORCE Finding the Right Fit The Texas Workforce Commission’s innovative initiatives enable employers to help create the workers they want. by LINDSAY LOPPTEXAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE 81 E xpanding companies aren’t the only ones enticed by Texas’ business-friendly climate. “Having that kind of reputation also tends to draw workers. They see the industry moving, they need a good job, and they come to the state. We are leading other states in population growth,” says Courtney Arbour, the director of the Texas Workforce Commission’s Workforce Development Division. “In fact, we are the top state attracting young people 25 to 39 years of age.” Not only did the Texas population 82 TEXAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE grow by nearly half a million people in 2023, Arbour shared that 82% of people born in Texas choose to stay there. “We jokingly say that we are the stickiest state,” explains Arbour. “And that helps to create an environment where we have an ample workforce to support the job growth we’ve experienced.” With locals that like to stick around and a steady stream of newcomers, Texas’ workforce has grown to more than 15 million people, a much needed asset given the influx of job opportunities in every region. Due to the state’s business climate attracting hordes of corporate expansion projects, Texas is projected to add more than 2.3 million new jobs between 2020 and 2030. In 2023 alone, approximately 326,700 nonfarm jobs were created, more than any other state in the nation, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). While the sheer size of Texas’ workforce has certainly played a role in cementing this success, its dynamic approach to addressing talent gaps and upskilling efforts has assured companies that they can find and create the workers they need in Texas. “We have long been an integrated system at the Texas Workforce Commission, where we have multiple workforce programs from federal and state sources operating within this agency. And because of our integration, we are able to serve a lot of Texans, providing a lot of different types of services,” says Arbour. “We have longstanding partnerships that help us to find workers and connect them to jobs or connect them to training or with higher education.” Alongside 28 Workforce Development Boards, the Texas Workforce Commission is a part of a statewide resource known as the Texas Workforce Solutions network. More than 170 Workforce Solutions offices are peppered throughout the state, providing residents access to career training, financial aid, job- search tools and support services such as interview clothing, gas cards and bus tickets. “Whatever it takes to help connect those workers,” says Arbour. “Because there are more than 170 local offices, we are well connected in the communities and with industries to know the workforce needs.” Tackling the Talent Crisis Arbour states that in recent years TWC has actively prioritized addressing talent gaps in the middle skill jobs, occupations that do not require a bachelor’s degree, but still some level Workers in San Antonio enjoy congregating at the end of the day at the Hotel Emma bar. Photo by Pierce Ingram/Courtesy of Travel Texas84 TEXAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE of certification following high school. “We saw that after COVID, with the great reshuffling of people leaving certain jobs and moving into others, middle skills jobs are those that really keep the economy churning,” says Arbour. “TWC is focused on ensuring that workers know of these jobs in their area, not only the jobs today, but also those with projected growth in the years ahead.” Increasing the funding and opportunities for apprenticeship programs has been integral to these efforts. “Apprenticeship programs are both a job seeker benefit and an employer benefit,” says Arbour. “When an apprenticeship program takes off, not only are the workers being trained on the job so they don’t have to leave employment to go into a training program, but also the employer is able to secure their workforce early on and keep them for a longer period.” In 2022, TWC set side aside $4 million to support employers who were creating or already using Registered Apprenticeship (RA) programs to train their workers in middle skill careers. The organization has continued to bolster these efforts through multiple initiatives. Until December 31, 2026, companies approved for the Apprenticeship Tax Refund Pilot Program could potentially receive a refund on their state taxes of up to $2,500 for each apprentice participating in a qualifying apprenticeship program who has earned wages for at least seven months over a one-year period. In January, TWC announced a new apprenticeship initiative for eligible private sector employers. The Texas Industry Recognized Apprenticeship (TIRA) program plans to award nearly $10 million in grants during this initial round. To qualify for this opportunity, private-sector companies must develop or grow an apprenticeship model that aligns with one of the high-demand target occupations. Apprenticeships for carpenters, automotive service technicians and mechanics, electricians, bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists, bookkeepers, accountants and auditors as well as a range of jobs in health care are among those that are eligible to receive funding. REGISTERED NURSES LICENSED PRACTICAL AND LICENSED VOCATIONAL- NURSES ELECTRICIANS HEATING, AIR CONDITIONING, AND REFRIGERATION MECHANICS AND INSTALLERS WELDERS, CUTTERS, SOLDERERS, AND BRAZERS HEAVY AND TRACTOR-TRAILER TRUCK DRIVERS MEDICAL ASSISTANTS PLUMBERS, PIPEFITTERS, AND STEAMFITTERS AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE TECHNICIANS AND MECHANICS BUS AND TRUCK MECHANICS AND DIESEL ENGINE SPECIALISTS RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGISTS AND TECHNICIANS BOOKKEEPING, ACCOUNTING, AND AUDITING CLERKS MACHINISTS PHARMACY TECHNICIANS INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY MECHANICS AND TECHNI- CIANS ACCOUNTANTS AND AUDITORS DENTAL ASSISTANTS MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHERS, EXCEPT SPECIAL AND CAREER/TECHNICAL EDUCATION RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS MEDICAL SECRETARIES AND ADMINISTRATIVE AS- SISTANTS CARPENTERS GENERAL AND OPERATIONS MANAGERS SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS, EXCEPT SPECIAL AND CAREER/TECHNICAL EDUCATION PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANTS POLICE AND SHERIFF’S PATROL OFFICERS 25 Target Occupations Texas Statewide Source: Texas Workforce CommissionTEXAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE 85 better for your business Work with us to build a customized training plan for your business. We can train your team, online or in person. Choose from one of our existing programs: Visit tstc.edu/workforce for more information. •NCCER Carpentry and Electrical •NCCER Maritime Welding •Phlebotomy Technician •Professional Driving Academy •SACA Industrial Systems •And more! meeting the workforce needs of texas WORKFORCE TRAINING & CONTINUING EDUCATION “The important part of an apprenticeship is that it’s a paid model, so that people don’t have to leave a job to be upskilled,” says Arbour. “We have assisted in the training of more than 46,000 apprentices in the last five years. Apprentices are full-time paid employees. They are earning while they learn. There is a classroom component and also an on-the-job component where an apprentice is provided very structured training and a predictable training outlook, so they know the different milestones they’ll be passing along the way.” Photo: Getty ImagesNext >