Los proyectos de Project Connect, el plan aprobado por votación en 2020 para ampliar y mejorar la red de transporte público para el Centro de Texas, crearán miles de nuevos empleos, incluso diferentes a los existentes actualmente, en los próximos diez años.
Para entender la próxima necesidad y suplirla conforme vaya surgiendo, Austin Transit Partnership (ATP) y Workforce Solutions Capital Area se unieron para crear la primera alianza regional de fuerza laboral del sector industrial de movilidad y un plan de acción para el desarrollo de esos puestos de trabajo.
The talent demand of today far exceeds the supply of skilled workers in every market, and Austin is no exception. Local companies looking to fill tech-related openings are having trouble recruiting and retaining mid to senior-level tech-related roles.
Our new report offers solutions for immediate impact: skills-based hiring and earn-and-learn apprenticeship models. Along with the insights offered in the report, Workforce Solutions can help your company identify pathways that help grow new local talent and upskill your current workforce into leadership positions.
Success story: Aspire Digital’s first apprenticeship cohort implemented with the guidance of Workforce Solutions became billable — or at a skill level for clients to pay for their time — in one year. With commitment to the program, they’ve decreased the time for apprentices to be billable by up to 75%, or three to six months.
Grow your business through talent: If you’re ready, we can connect you to the earn-and-learn apprenticeship model that works best for your company. Get started.
A Workforce Mobility Industry Sector Partnership was announced Friday between Austin Transit Partnership (ATP) and Workforce Solutions Capital Area (WFS).
“The purpose of this Agreement is to support the creation of the region’s first Workforce Mobility Industry Sector Partnership that includes the development and implementation of a construction workforce plan for the construction of Project Connect, which was approved by the voters of the City at the November 3, 2020, special election,” the Scope of Agreement shows.
AUSTIN, Texas–Austin Transit Partnership and Workforce Solutions Capital Area today announced a partnership that will aim to develop Austin’s workforce to accommodate the expanding infrastructure projects in Central Texas. The two organizations will create the region’s first Workforce Mobility Industry Sector Partnership and Workforce Infrastructure Action Plan that will seek to build skilled talent from within the Austin community to meet the employment demands of the region as Project Connect progresses.
“I congratulate Austin Transit Partnership and Workforce Solutions Capital Area on this endeavor, and I am confident the partnership will have a positive, long-lasting impact on the Austin community,” Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said. “ATP has been committed to increasing our city’s mobility since its inception, and Workforce Solutions Capital Area’s dedication to uplifting job seekers is unmatched in our community. I look forward to their collaborative achievements in the years to come.”
The Workforce Mobility Industry Sector Partnership will result in recommended oversight opportunities for infrastructure funding, enabling efficient and productive means to align workforce development resources through mobility, transit and infrastructure projects. Recommendations will include processes to reach underinvested
communities, as well as wraparound service needs.
“As Austin’s population grows and the region continues to be a destination for businesses across all sectors and industries, our infrastructure needs to expand and improve,” Greg Canally, executive director of Austin Transit Partnership, said. “We need to make sure every Austinite has equitable access to transportation throughout the city, and Austin Transit Partnership is working to achieve this goal. Workforce Solutions Capital Area is the perfect partner to ensure that as we build and grow, the Austin workforce is ready to meet the increasing demand for employees in construction, engineering and beyond.”
According to JobsEQ, a provider of labor market data and demographics, the Austin metro area currently employs 103,898 workers in the local construction and transit-related industries. The demand for workers in those fields is expected to increase to 142,657 over the next decade, with many of those jobs needed for Austin and the rail expansion within Project Connect.
“Austin is brimming with untapped talent needed to fill the thousands of jobs our future mobility and infrastructure projects, including Austin Light Rail, will generate,” Tamara Atkinson, chief executive officer of Workforce Solutions Capital Area, said. “Ensuring Austin has the skilled workforce needed to meet the demands of our growing region is paramount, and we are ready to serve as the hub for filling and growing mobility roles in operations, management and beyond.”
The partnership will kick off in April with Workforce Solutions analyzing the community’s mobility and infrastructure workforce ecosystem. The work will include a comprehensive study on the supply and demand of occupations in construction, skilled workers and related industries. Additionally, it will contain an assessment of current worker availability, job training capacity, academic readiness of job seekers and more.
Prior to delivering the action plan, Workforce Solutions is also charged with educating leaders on the value of training local workers for infrastructures needs and will include one to two best practice visits to cities that are using mobility funds to create stronger and more resilient communities.
ATP was created by CapMetro and the City of Austin after voters approved the provision of dedicated funding for the Project Connect System Plan. ATP is committed to delivering a core light rail system that connects people with jobs and destinations in an equitable manner and within an established budget. Workforce Solutions Capital Area, which connects local job seekers to local jobs, will coordinate with ATP, CapMetro, the City of Austin, the Community Advisory Committee and other mobility/transit entities to ensure there is skilled talent ready and available to take on jobs in the industry as the system expands.
For more information, including the Austin Light Rail March 21 community meeting, please visit ATPTX.org.
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About Workforce Solutions Capital Area
Workforce Solutions Capital Area is the non-profit organization that serves as the leadership and governing body for the Austin/Travis County area workforce system. They are responsible for the planning, oversight, and evaluation of workforce development activities in the Capital Area. Learn more at WFSCapitalArea.com and follow along on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
About Austin Transit Partnership
Austin Transit Partnership was created by the City of Austin and the Capital Metro Transportation Authority as the independent entity, accountable, and responsible for the financing, design, construction, and overall implementation of Project Connect—the transformative, voter-approved investment in new transit services. ATP’s charge is to deliver on the Austin voters’ transit vision in partnership with the community – and in a way that embeds equity, sustainability, and transparency as overarching priorities.
La agencia laboral Workforce Solutions ofrece un programa de preparación de aprendices del curriculum base de multi-oficios, conocido como MC3.
La iniciativa consiste de un curso de dos semanas que ofrece a los participantes orientación sobre un amplia gama de empleos en áreas como los primeros auxilios, prevención de riesgo y la certificación de la Administración de Salud y Seguridad Ocupacional, OSHA.
“Ellos son expuestos a todos los oficios en construcción, desde plomería hasta trabajo eléctrico. Lo que realmente les permite tratar de descubrir cuál es el oficio que les gusta más”, dijo Yesenia García, quien ayuda a coordinar el programa.
Local organizations are hoping to give everyone permission to dream.
Workforce Solutions Capital Area, along with North America’s Building Trade Unions has partnered with the man whose story inspired the “Pursuit of Happyness” movie, in the hopes of driving middle and high school students to plan for their careers.
“What we want you to know is that there are opportunities for you, and there are people that are fighting and wanting to make sure that you know that those opportunities are there for you,” said the president of the Texas State Teachers Association Ovidia Molina.
Segun datos publicados por la Comisión de la Fuerza Laboral de Texas, la tasa de desempleo en el área de Austin-Round Rock disminuyó en los meses de noviembre de 2022 a diciembre de 2022 y ahora se sitúa en el 2.7%, lo que representa un total de 21,237 residentes sin trabajo.
Representado por 36,833 residentes desempleados, el estudio revela que la tasa de desempleo en el área metropolitana de Austin se mantiene por debajo del nivel estatal. Las tasas de desempleo en Texas se sitúan en un 3.6%, mientras que a nivel nacional se posiciona en un 3.3%.
Workforce Solutions Capital Area and UA Local 286 Plumbers & Pipefitters are holding an open house event this Saturday to promote their local pre-apprenticeship class and encourage residents to pursue a career in a trade.
The Multi-Craft Core Curriculum Pre-Apprenticeship Program (MC3) is a two-week course that guides participants through a range of skills across the trades, first aid and safety, and OSHA certification.
Workforce Solutions Capital Area, the local workforce development board for Austin-Travis County, is excited to announce its 2023 recognition as one of the Best Places for Working Parents in Austin by Early Matters Greater Austin.
Best Places for Working Parents™ is a first-of-its-kind business self-assessment promoting research-backed policies that benefit both working parents and businesses’ bottom line.
Workforce Solutions Capital Area has supported early childhood success for many years and the pandemic has only made the need more acute. For that reason, we are proud to collaborate with Early Matters Greater Austin and invite you to become a part of this growing, national movement of business leaders that are proving family-friendly is business-friendly.
Through a short, confidential online self-assessment, businesses can see if they qualify for a Best Place for Working Parents™ designation and view how their company compares to other companies of similar size and industry. Qualifying businesses who take the assessment will be promoted through local media outlets and receive unique branding opportunities. The online, self-assessment can be found here.
Why is this initiative important?
83% of millennials said they would or likely would leave their current job for another job with better family friendly workplace policies. Your company can be at the forefront of attracting and retaining top talent by earning this designation and showcasing your commitment to family-friendly policies.
National research tells us that there is a serious business case to being family-friendly. More than 15 million U.S. workers have quit their jobs since April 2021, and 45% of those surveyed said needing to take care of family was a key factor in their decision. Offering family-friendly workplaces is a crucial component of getting Texans back to work, fueling our state’s economic engine.
Our city thrives when children thrive because they are our future citizens, workforce, and leaders. Employers of every size and industry can play an important role in ensuring all children reach their full potential. Even though most employers are not directly involved in raising children, their support for family-friendly workplace practices is good for business and good for Austin.
About Early Matters Greater Austin
EMGA is an alliance of current and retired business professionals focused on the critical relationship between access to high-quality early education and our State’s long-term economic success. EMGA is dedicated to bringing the business voice to the table where appropriate to help ensure young children in Central Texas reach their full potential by entering kindergarten prepared to learn and succeed. To learn more or to get involved as a Best Place for Working Parents™, visit https://www.earlymattersgreateraustin.org/.
About Workforce Solutions Capital Area
Workforce Solutions Capital Area Workforce Board is the publicly-funded workforce board for Austin-Travis County. Through strong partnerships and strategic collaborations, we are leading the region’s workforce system in the development of a world-class workforce. To learn more about our services for job seekers, employers, parents, and children, please visit wfscapitalarea.com.
2022 was a monumental year for our local workforce and Workforce Solutions Capital Area! We want to celebrate some of the great work done for our community connecting local people to local jobs. Looking ahead, our goal is to continue making a positive difference in the lives of job seekers and employers. Here’s a recap of some of our top moments from 2022, presented in no particular order.
1. We launched the ‘Hire Local’ plan, offering 1,000 scholarships for training programs
Austin currently has one of the hottest job markets in the country, but our community continues to grapple with equity concerns such as unaffordability. Alongside Austin and Travis County leaders, we publicly launched the “Hire Local” plan in May 2022 and also announced 1,000 new scholarships available for our workforce training programs. The goal of Hire Local is to connect local people with the skills needed to land in-demand, higher paying jobs so they can afford to stay in Austin.
“[Workforce Solutions Capital Area] wants you to know that they have these opportunities for you all. They’re here for you. So I really want people to reach out and just respond to them, see what they have to offer.”
Khalyl Woodson, Workforce Solutions training scholarship recipient
2. We celebrated the first Hire Local Award winner through the Austin Chamber’s Greater Austin Business Awards
We’re honored to have partnered with the Austin Chamber to create a new recognition for local employers helping to strengthen our regional workforce.
As part of the Austin Chamber’s Greater Austin Business Awards, the Hire Local Award recognizes one local company that embraces the responsibility of preparing our future generations for careers in Central Texas. Congratulations to our board member John Newman with Athena Manufacturing for winning the first ever Hire Local Award!
RELATED: Manufacturing is a key industry in Central Texas, with many businesses producing everything from microchips to medical equipment. Hear from a local company building its talented workforce by relying on partners like Workforce Solutions Capital Area and no-cost training resources like the Certified Production Technician program.
3. We partnered with CapMetro on a 1,000+ Project Connect job development
A new collaboration between CapMetro and Workforce Solutions Capital Area will help develop more than 1,000 local jobs as the transit authority revs up its Project Connect mass transit program.
As part of the collaboration, we will work alongside our education and business partners to identify possible candidates from our talent pools and fulfill CapMetro’s workforce needs.
4. We expanded apprenticeship programs in healthcare, manufacturing and techwith more than $500,000 in grants in hand
Apprenticeship programs allow local people to keep a source of income, getting paid while they train on the job for in-demand careers. Learning from the skilled trades apprenticeship program from partners like Local 286 Plumbers and Pipefitters, we have been able to envision apprenticeship in other in-demand industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, and tech.
RELATED:We won first place for the 2022 Registered Apprenticeship Expansion Award at the Texas Workforce Commission Conference. It’s an honor to receive this recognition for building effective training pathways in growing industries.
5. We partnered with Central Texas Food Bank to feed and find jobs for those in need
We partnered with Central Texas Food Bank for an event called “Fed Today, Work Tomorrow” to help those in need get food and job placement assistance ahead of the holidays. We offered free meals for the first 100 people, and SNAP enrollment coordinators were on site to help people get signed up.
“Collaboration is at the core of our mission. And so, it can be difficult for folks to try and navigate a system and receive assistance or get information. Any time we can come together to provide a one-stop shop of information and resources in one place and provide a meal, it’s a win for us.”
Sari Vatske, president and CEO of the Central Texas Food Bank
6. We are improving child care services and resources for low-income families
Low-income families may find it difficult to work or pursue an education and pay for child care without financial assistance. That is why we offer child care scholarships and corresponding providers to meet the needs of their families.
Currently, we work with more than 300 child care providers that are caring for more than 3,000 children.
Dr. Desmar Walkes, Commissioner Aaron Demerson, and Council Member José “Chito” Vela
7. At the Child Care Symposium, providers received opportunities to learn and connect
Providing eligible parents with financial assistance for quality child care is essential for these parents to work or train to better provide for their families. It also helps to develop the future skilled workforce of Central Texas. To help accomplish this, we host the annual Child Care Symposium for child care directors, owners and workers in Central Texas.
8. We connected industry to the classroom with the Teacher Externship Program
Last summer, we partnered with local school districts and employers from various industries for the third annual Teacher Externship Program. Our program strengthens relationships with local school districts to connect with the next generation of skilled talent. We connect industry to the classroom, supporting students in developing in-demand academic and technical skills for today’s workforce.
“The employer component was outstanding. I learned the value in sharing all the opportunities that our scholars have beyond just believing they need to go to a college/university to have the job of their dreams or their choice.”
RELATED: In partnership with Austin Independent School District, as well as Austin Energy and the City of Austin, we held a ceremony inspired by athletic signing events to spotlight students pursuing careers and technical education upon graduation.
9. To meet job seekers where they are, we’re now co-located with key local partners
Dedicated Workforce Solutions Capital Area career counselors now have a permanent home at Austin Community College District’s Northridge Campus. The move is part of a new co-location formed in order to connect students more seamlessly to city and county funding for workforce training.
Workforce Solutions has also strategically co-located with other training providers and community organizations, including Austin Public Library, Texas Building Trades Council, and more.
10. We were awarded a $100,000 grant from Texas Mutual grant for workforce development
Grant funds from Texas Mutual Insurance Company expanded students’ skills training opportunities with Elgin Independent School District. Workforce Solutions is one of 44 recipients of Texas Mutual’s annual workforce development and training safety grant.
For this grant, Workforce Solutions and Elgin ISD expanded the district’s Auto Tech Pathway program by purchasing industry standard professional equipment and providing associated OSHA Basic 10 training and interactive and experiential safety training.
RELATED: We received $45,000 from JFF and New Profit to design and launch a pilot initiative in October to implement the IBM SkillsBuild learning platform. This pilot will be part of the Workforce Development Board Digital Skills Pilot Initiative, led by JFF and New Profit, and funded by Google.org and IBM.
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