Healthcare remains one of Central Texas’ most in-demand industries, creating career opportunities across a range of occupations, education levels and wages. Meeting continued employer demand will require strong career pathways and coordination across healthcare employers, educators and workforce partners.
Key findings from the report include:
More than 4,200 annual openings are projected through 2031 across six priority healthcare occupations
Registered nurses lead projected demand with nearly 1,500 annual openings, while nursing assistants follow with nearly 1,200
Many high-demand healthcare careers require a certificate or associate degree, with median annual wages across the six priority occupations ranging from approximately $38,000 to $94,000
Regional employers report hiring needs beyond published labor market estimates, reinforcing the need for continued collaboration to strengthen the healthcare talent pipeline
Our newest Texas Talent Experts white paper—developed in partnership with Opportunity Austin and Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area—explores healthcare workforce trends, in-demand career pathways and regional efforts to prepare the next generation of healthcare talent.
Highlights include the Central Texas Healthcare Academy, developed by the Central Texas Healthcare Partnership convened by Workforce Solutions Capital Area, along with other investments in hands-on career exploration and healthcare training across the region.
Read the white paper and learn how Central Texas is building the workforce needed to support a growing economy.
Almost two years after Travis County residents raised their own taxes in pursuit of better childcare, the millions are starting to make a difference.
However, providers say there’s still a long way to go to fix a broken system.
Travis County voters approved a property tax increase in November 2024 that will generate about $75 million annually for after-school and summer programs and childcare. To date, the tax funded initiative, dubbed Raising Travis County, has allocated more than $51 million to expand early childhood education scholarships, childcare providers and out-of-school programming.
From connecting with qualified candidates to staying engaged with industry partners, Austin Water has found value in its partnership with Workforce Solutions Capital Area.
Human Resources Specialist Lesli Martinez shares how hiring events, on-the-spot interviews and Mobility & Infrastructure sector workgroups help Austin Water recruit for critical positions, connect with experienced talent and stay informed about workforce programs and opportunities.
See the Austin Infrastructure Academy’s latest impact reports.
Travis County is putting more money and seats behind afterschool care this fall, part of a push to close a shortage leaving many families without options.
Only 23% of the county’s priority-population students have access to a seat, and just 17% can get into a program that runs all five days, according to a new out-of-school time (OST) landscape analysis from the Andy Roddick Foundation, funded by Raising Travis County (RTC). More than 1,100 kids are waitlisted.
Aligning capital project workforce needs with Austin’s talent pipeline
This quarter, the Austin Infrastructure Academy continued its focus on building sustainable, demand-aligned career pathways that connect Austinites to opportunities created through major capital projects across Austin. By convening employers, education partners, workforce organizations, and community partners, the Academy is helping align future workforce needs with the training, outreach, and support systems needed to prepare local talent for careers in transportation, construction, and other skilled trades.
Through intentional collaboration across the workforce ecosystem, the Academy is working to ensure Austin residents—including high school graduates, career changers, and other local job seekers—have access to clear pathways, the right resources, and the skills needed to launch successful careers, while employers have a stronger pipeline of prepared talent to support future projects.
What is the Austin Infrastructure Academy?
The Austin Infrastructure Academy is a local coalition of partners in government, education, business, and the community working together to grow Austin’s workforce in transportation, construction, and other skilled trades.
We connect local people to training and careers that power Austin’s growth—removing barriers so they can make a living, making Austin.
What we do:
Help employers find the workers they need
Support people in building long-term careers
Remove barriers including training costs, childcare, transportation, and gear
Participants Enrolled in the Austin Infrastructure Academy1
572
1,654
Training Scholarships Awarded
43
210
Residents Employed or Advancing Their Careers2
36
142
1 Enrolled participants have been accepted into the Austin Infrastructure Academy and receive individualized career navigation, with access to training, supportive services, and job placement assistance based on their needs. 2 Unemployment Insurance (UI) data typically reflects a two-quarter reporting delay
Quarterly Highlights
1. Austin Infrastructure Academy Earns Statewide Economic Development Recognition
The Austin Infrastructure Academy has been named the recipient of the 2026 Workforce Excellence Award from the Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC). Since 2001, the award has recognized Texas communities that have implemented exceptional workforce initiatives, evaluating recipients on innovation, transferability, community commitment and leverage, measurable objectives, and secondary benefits.
The recognition reflects the Academy’s success as a regional partnership that strengthens both the workforce and the economy by preparing local residents for careers supporting Central Texas’ historic infrastructure investments.
2. Connecting Talent to Opportunity
May 2026 Austin Infrastructure Academy Career Expo Outcomes
Job seekers attended
204
Additional job seekers registered with interest
246
Employers
24
Training providers
8
At the May Expo, Tirone shared his experience returning to the workforce after being laid off from a manufacturing technician position. He credited Workforce Solutions staff with helping him navigate technology barriers and his job search.
Since filming the story, Tirone has found new employment.
Partner With the Austin Infrastructure Academy
Meet Career-Ready Talent: Join us at our next career expo.
Share Workforce Needs: Help shape future training programs by sharing current and future hiring demand.
Post Open Positions: Connect with local job seekers through WorkInTexas.com.
Austin Infrastructure Academy convening Austin Transit Partnership, Stacy Witbeck, AECOM, Kiewit, and Sundt to prep for building the local talent pipeline to support the Austin Light Rail project.
1. Aligning Workforce Needs with Capital Projects
The Austin Infrastructure Academy has launched workforce alignment meetings with major Capital Project partners, including Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Austin Light Rail, the Austin Convention Center (and more to come!), to better understand future workforce demand and identify entry-level career opportunities connected to these investments.
These conversations help forecast hiring needs, align training and talent pipelines, and ensure capital investments create meaningful pathways into mobility and infrastructure careers for Austin residents.
2. Equipping K–12 Partners to Inspire Future Careers
Strong career pathways begin long before students enter the workforce. This quarter, the Austin Infrastructure Academy expanded its support for educators and community partners by launching the K-12 Partner Toolkit.
The toolkit provides teachers, CTE directors, counselors, and community partners with ready-to-use resources—including access to Hype Kits, classroom presentations, career events, employer engagement opportunities, and career exploration materials—to help students discover careers in transportation, construction, and other skilled trades.
By equipping partners with these tools, we’re expanding access to career awareness and strengthening the pipeline of future mobility and infrastructure talent.
Student using our VR headset and monitor. Snapshot of simulations aligned with in-demand Mobility & Infrastructure careers: Automotive Services Technician, Electrician, Carpenter, Construction Laborer, HVAC Technician, Plumber, Pipefitter, and Steamfitter, and more!
Looking Ahead
1. Preparing for the future Academy front door
Austin Community College & Workforce Solutions Capital Area Service Alignment
The Austin Infrastructure Academy is convening Austin Community College and Workforce Solutions Capital Area Career Services staff to align services and create a seamless experience for students and career seekers. Together, partners are mapping programs, support services, referral processes, and organizational strengths to design a coordinated “front door” that makes it easier for individuals to access career coaching, training, supportive services, and employment opportunities.
This foundational work will help ensure future Academy participants experience a streamlined pathway from career exploration to training and employment while maximizing the strengths of each partner organization.
2. Helping Employers Meet Austin’s Water Reuse Requirements
Austin’s 2024 onsite water reuse ordinance creates new operational requirements for large commercial and multifamily developments. To help employers prepare, Austin Water is leading the development of workforce training in partnership with Austin Community College, while the Austin Infrastructure Academy has provided framework to convene partners, impacted stakeholders, and employers to support implementation efforts.
Through this collaboration, employers can learn about the new requirements, available training opportunities, and potential funding resources to upskill existing workers, including facility managers, plumbers, and other building and water systems professionals. The initiative aims to help businesses successfully implement onsite water reuse systems while strengthening Austin’s water workforce. Training is anticipated to launch in fall 2026.
Update: Shortly after we filmed his story, Tirone connected with an employer at a Workforce Solutions job fair and found a new job.
Tirone knows how quickly life can change.
After being laid off from a manufacturing technician position, he suddenly found himself facing an unfamiliar job market. Like many experienced workers, he discovered that finding employment looked much different than it had years before.
“Being a little computer illiterate is a downfall… everything is computerized now,” he shared.
Unsure where to begin, Tirone turned to Workforce Solutions Capital Area.
From his very first visit to the East Career Center, he found more than job leads. He found people willing to answer questions, provide guidance, and help him navigate a process that initially felt overwhelming.
“When you’re laid off, it’s gut hitting,” Tirone said. “If you ain’t been down that road, it’s a rough road to go through.”
That support didn’t end after one visit.
As Tirone continued his job search, Workforce Solutions staff remained alongside him—connecting him with career guidance, hiring events, and additional resources as he worked toward his next opportunity. His journey reflects the coordinated support that helps many customers navigate periods of transition with confidence.
Today, he encourages others not to wait until they feel stuck.
“This is a great place for people who want a job. I think you should go to one of these [Workforce Solutions locations] and you can find something.”
For Tirone, Workforce Solutions became exactly that—a place to start again.
When asked to describe Workforce Solutions Capital Area in one word, his answer was simple:
Isaiah Portillo is a veteran who worked for a local nonprofit assisting veterans leave homelessness. When the nonprofit lost their federal funding, Isaiah was laid off.
“Suddenly, I was the veteran needing help to avoid homelessness. I was very concerned about the direction I was taking my wife and three babies all under 2 years of age,” Isaiah said. “I immediately sought the assistance of agencies that help veterans avoid homelessness, as well as seeking assistance with Child Care Services.”
Isaiah enrolled in the Continuity of Care Program while he searched for a new job. This program is funded by the City of Austin and Travis County, and is designed to bridge sudden gaps in financial eligibility for local parents so their children do not lose their childcare placement.
Once enrolled, Isaiah received assistance from Giuliana Giardino, a Child Care Navigator with Child Care Services. Isaiah said, “Giuliana has been the most professional, kind, supportive, attentive, gentle, genuine, and caring person I’ve had the privilege of working with. I thank God that she was my case manager and I hope she never leaves CCS!”
The Continuity of Care program provided stability for Isaiah’s family while he secured new employment and his spouse enrolled in job training.
My wife cannot work, but we used this opportunity for her to get specialized training. So now, I have a job that is getting us by, and my wife is getting additional training in school. None of that would have been possible without Child Care Services assistance.
Travis County voters approved a property tax increase in 2024 to raise $75 million a year for child care. So far, $51.7 million has been committed, strategic adviser Leah Meunier said.
Now, the county is working to ensure there are enough teachers to fill the classrooms the money is meant to open.
The county is exploring a required minimum wage for teachers, and an Aug. 8 resource fair will connect families to care in the meantime.
Yohan Rodriguez is the lead teacher at Country Home Learning Center #8 in Austin. Her center cares for 99 children receiving scholarships through Child Care Services.
The center receives support from Child Care Services through the Jeannette Watson program, a salary supplement program funded by the City of Austin, Travis County, and Workforce Solutions Capital Area.
“The impact on me has been incredibly positive; it is my driving force and my inspiration. It has allowed me to dream big with my students and provide them with magical tools and resources that have filled our classroom with happiness,” Yohan said. “It is so rewarding and inspiring to conduct lessons using tangible tools that enable children to engage in sensory activities—where they can interact while putting the learning objectives into practice.”
Yohan’s teachers also receive assistance from our Capital Area Retention and Elevation (CARE) Program, which provides financial incentives to eligible early learning providers to support staff retention, motivation, and satisfaction.
“In my little classroom, every game represents a meaningful and unforgettable learning experience; the children remember and repeat what they have learned—through art, stories, puppets, and interactive classroom settings—continuing that learning at home during playtime. For me as a teacher, creating happy, learning-filled moments is deeply satisfying and inspiring. Thank you for all the support,” Yohan said about CARE.
“Thank you for believing in me, even when I doubted myself; your contributions have restored my faith, and your support helps many teachers who—like me—dream of providing children with multifunctional educational spaces where they can see and interact with learning resources, develop new skills, and enjoy every learning experience.”
Workforce Solutions Capital Area has 496 providers participating in Child Care Services and 3,128 children receiving care through CCS scholarships.
We partner with child care providers to strengthen quality care across Travis County — through scholarships, training, coaching, and support programs. Learn more about how we support child care centers to thrive.
Frank Garcia with the City of Austin Housing Authority attended the latest Healthcare Job Fair hosted by Workforce Solutions Capital Area and hired a maintenance technician on the spot.
In this testimonial, Frank shares how he met many people with great skill sets and hired a job seeker on the spot.
