Manufacturing is a key industry in Central Texas, with many businesses producing everything from microchips to medical equipment. Nestled in the heart of Austin, you’ll find Bearded Brothers, an organic snack brand that takes great pride in manufacturing just as much as it delights in customer experience.
To date, the company has hired three program graduates to join their production and fulfilment team, said Nick Meyer, plant manager. While on the job, the graduates apply their classroom learnings through the entire production process, including fulfillment, machine operating and demand planning.
“We’re proud to be firmly rooted in Austin since our inception,” Nick said. “With the pool of applicants from this program, we have been able to tap into more opportunities to employ local candidates with a demonstrated interest to learn and grow in the production of high-quality snack bars.”
Bearded Brothers’ relationship with Workforce Solutions began in October 2021 through an introduction by the Austin Regional Manufacturers Association. Both Workforce Solutions, Bearded Brothers and the association participate in the Central Texas Manufacturing Partnership to support the region’s manufacturing industry.
The Certified Production Technician program is a joint effort by the Central Texas Manufacturing Partnership, with local employers and training providers Skillpoint Alliance and Austin Community College as members.
The program trains individuals in the core competencies for front-line, advanced manufacturing occupations, from entry-level to supervisor.
The curriculum was developed with input from numerous manufacturing employers to pass on the skills for today’s critical roles, leading to an industry-recognized credential.
“It creates a great base of manufacturing knowledge that sets program graduates up for success in manufacturing wherever they land upon graduation,” said Nick. “This is an excellent pool of candidates that are a wonderful value add to the team.”
Nick added, “We have had a great experience with the program and look forward to continuing to work with the program!”
Workforce Solutions connects local people to local jobs. We can assist your organization with growing your workforce and strengthening the skills of your talent with a variety of resources, all at no cost to you. Learn more here.
As Austin continues growing, the metro will require more skilled workers to build and maintain everything going up across the region. With the goal in mind of introducing the next generation of skilled talent to opportunities in the trades, we hosted the annual Metroplex Career Rally at Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 286 on March 22 and 23 for local students.
Members of six local Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) provided hands-on demos and workshops for 80 middle school and 200 high school students over the two-day event. With thousands of local job openings for occupations like plumbers, electricians, carpenters and more, the importance of growing the next generation of craftspeople becomes more apparent.
“Apprenticeship is very important to our industry. There is no better training model—the hands-on method works great. We take someone who is interested in getting their foot in the door and we get them working and they earn while they learn,” said Joe Cooper, Training Director at Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 286and a member of the Capital Area Board of Directors.
“The apprenticeship model helps us to renew our ranks and ensure we have the next generation of skilled craftspeople. Apprenticeship lets our contractor partners, our journeymen, and our apprentices give back and have some shape and control over the industry we work in,” Joe said.
Participating students came from campuses in Austin, Del Valle, Manor, and Pflugerville independent school districts. Students with the YouthBuild Austin program at American YouthWorks also joined.
Students learned about eligibility requirements, benefits, and what a typical work day looks like as apprentices in electrical, plumbing, ironworking, carpentry, and sheet metal.
Emanuel Calwac, a senior at Del Valle High School, said, “My favorite thing about the event is all the people who came out to support us and teach us about things we don’t know, like the trades and careers we can choose and all the things we can think about for our future lives.”
Hunter McIntee, a student at American YouthWorks, said, “I’m really interested in these programs, mainly the carpenters program. I want to see where I can get my foot in the door with that and make huge steps toward my future goals and career.”
Additionally, career and education outreach specialists with WFS Capital Area hosted a workshop on career exploration utilizing tools created by the board and the Texas Workforce Commission to help students plan and budget for their adult lives.
The event concluded with Julian Alvarez, Commissioner Representing Labor for the Texas Workforce Commission, speaking about the opportunities the students had explored: “What I see here in this room are future employers. With your initiative and the skills you will gain in the trades, you will own your own business one day.”
For Hakim Budillo, a senior at Del Valle High School, his plans are set: “My plans for the next couple years are to be a welder here at Local 286.”
Austin’s job growth proves we live in one of the most resilient economies in the nation. But, as is happening across the country, it’s a competitive market for workers.
Workforce Solutions Capital Area’s (WFS) main focus this year is the skills gap. In our analysis, the skills gap is one of the biggest contributors to the current labor shortage, along with the ongoing fear of COVID and the need for quality child care.
This is why WFS is here: to ensure there are more workers with the skills needed for quality jobs. We also work with local employers to help them hire, train, and retain skilled workers.
Over the last five years across all WFS local programs, clients experienced a total increase in earnings of $118 million after completing their programs. These higher earnings are made possible through newly acquired skills and supports like child care, transportation, and more to help bridge the gaps.
Here are a few areas WFS board members will be watching in the workforce as our economy continues to evolve rapidly…
Career pathways for students:
Melanie Flowers, VP of business strategy and corporate partnerships at Nepris: “I am looking to continue building industry-focused partnerships with CTE pathways for students that want to go directly to work and for students that want to go directly to college.
“I am also looking for innovative ways to collect and report current and real-time workforce data for the state and regions, including data on residents that move to the state.”
Annette Tielle, DVISD superintendent: “Business partners and school districts need to work together to create curriculum for students for specific jobs. If students have opportunities to be adequately trained for a job, they will be more likely to pursue that job.
“Secondly, many economically disadvantaged students need to work while in high school in order to support their families. If those students could enter paid internships/apprenticeships, then they could support their families while in high school, learn a trade, and pursue the trade post-graduation.”
Joe Cooper, training director at Local 286: “I’m looking forward to pathways from high school to registered apprenticeship.”
Attracting interest in tech/manufacturing careers:
Dave Parks, CEO at enChoice: “Technology is advancing much more quickly than companies can consume or leverage. This presents a huge challenge to businesses needing to change quickly or risk being automated out of business. I believe this opens opportunities for our younger workforce, who do not consider themselves technical but are driving these technology automation trends. They can become a part of the solution for the ‘modernize-or-die’ business dilemma because knowing old technology is not a prerequisite anymore.
“I believe today’s younger generation will be able to absorb and provide benefit to tomorrow’s innovations if we can get them involved and trained without requiring college degrees.”
Eddie Chien, senior director of human resources at Luminex: “One of the biggest issues we face is how to effectively attract prospective employees, especially with the cost of living in the region such a big concern.”
Remote work:
Dave Parks, CEO at enChoice: “Technology jobs are more likely to provide remote work capability. [Remote work] opens up new opportunities to an expanded workforce, including those with travel to work challenges, children at home, and disabilities.”
Michael Marler, vocational rehabilitation manager at Texas Workforce Solutions: “As a workforce representative of workers with disabilities, I am watching for increased and better-paying opportunities for virtual employment for well-qualified workers with disabilities who have physical challenges in a traditional work environment.
“During the last two years, as much of the workforce has moved toward virtual employment, workers with disabilities have begun to experience an increase in opportunities for employment that they have not always had. We are also watching for increased opportunities for accessible training in high-demand areas that would benefit workers with disabilities.”
Bottom line: WFS is ensuring the region has more workers with skills, as well as higher wages for those who skill up and for those entering training at the lowest levels of income.
What’s next: To address skills gaps, equity gaps, and affordability concerns in our community, WFS is on the verge of launching the next phase of the Community Workforce Plan: Austin’s Hire Local Plan.
Isaac Torres with the Make It Movement spoke about how youth can create their purpose statement to determine what they are meant to do in life rather than just what they are told to do.
Following the panels and presentations was a networking and job fair with more than 30 employers and training partners participated, including American YouthWorks, Goodwill Central Texas, Lifeworks, Make It Movement, and Skillpoint Alliance.
For Berenice Lopez, the best part of the event was the fact Youth Career Day was her first ever job fair.
Renee Williamson, another student, said, “My favorite part of the day was everything!”
“This day is so important because we need to inspire a whole new generation that there is a way to make good money, earn a skill and build a career in a short time after they leave high school,” Isaac said. “If they have the will, we will show them how to make it.”
SaulPaul, a rapper from Houston and member of the Make It Movement, emceed Youth Career Day.
“This year, not only did I get to emcee as in host, but also emcee as in make some music. We had some amazing guests come up on stage—it was interactive, it was engaging,” SaulPaul said.
Youth Career Day concluded with raffle prizes for youth who completed a passport with questions to ask the vendors to gain experience networking and job searching.
Workforce Solutions Capital Area is the backbone member of the Austin Opportunity Youth Collaborative (AOYC). This consortium of greater Austin-area community groups, represent a long history of providing coordinated services to youth. AOYC collaborates to amplify a focus on opportunity youth for education initiatives that provide employment training opportunities and lead to jobs. Learn more about how we support opportunity youth in Austin.
Our thanks to our Youth Career Day sponsors for their generous contributions:
Title Sponsor: Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 286
Title Sponsor: Make It Movement
Austin Central Library
Continental Automotive Group
Greystar
Skillpoint Alliance
Guest speakers offering career and education advice were Chante Braswell with HID Global, Michael Ward Jr. with Austin Urban Technology Movement, Shechem Sauls with CommUnity Care, and Farhan Manjiyani with Rev.com.
Youth Career Day also featured a panel with representatives of local employers sharing tips for how to succeed in a first job (moderated by a student from American YouthWorks!). On the panel were Carmen Cardenas with CommUnity Care, Shawn Nelson with Continental Auto Group, and Brian Peabody with Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 286, and Alex Popwell with Rev.com.
The day also featured presentations on interviewing by Dr. Katie Bradford of the Moody College of Communication at UT Austin and on soft skills by Megan Richardson at Goodwill Central Texas.
Isaac Torres with the Make It Movement spoke about how youth can create their purpose statement to determine what they are meant to do in life rather than just what they are told to do.
Following the panels and presentations was a networking and job fair with more than 30 employers and training partners participated, including American YouthWorks, Goodwill Central Texas, Lifeworks, Make It Movement, and Skillpoint Alliance.
For Berenice Lopez, the best part of the event was the fact Youth Career Day was her first ever job fair.
Renee Williamson, another student, said, “My favorite part of the day was everything!”
“This day is so important because we need to inspire a whole new generation that there is a way to make good money, earn a skill and build a career in a short time after they leave high school,” Isaac said. “If they have the will, we will show them how to make it.”
SaulPaul, a rapper from Houston and member of the Make It Movement, emceed Youth Career Day.
“This year, not only did I get to emcee as in host, but also emcee as in make some music. We had some amazing guests come up on stage—it was interactive, it was engaging,” SaulPaul said.
Youth Career Day concluded with raffle prizes for youth who completed a passport with questions to ask the vendors to gain experience networking and job searching.
Workforce Solutions Capital Area is the backbone member of the Austin Opportunity Youth Collaborative (AOYC). This consortium of greater Austin-area community groups, represent a long history of providing coordinated services to youth. AOYC collaborates to amplify a focus on opportunity youth for education initiatives that provide employment training opportunities and lead to jobs. Learn more about how we support opportunity youth in Austin.
Our thanks to our Youth Career Day sponsors for their generous contributions:
Title Sponsor: Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 286
Title Sponsor: Make It Movement
Austin Central Library
Continental Automotive Group
Greystar
Skillpoint Alliance
Did you know Workforce Solutions Capital Area supports opportunity youth in Austin? Opportunity youth are people who are 16 to 24 years old and not sufficiently engaged in education and employment. This is typically due to systemic barriers that we have identified and continue addressing collectively. There are approximately 24,000 opportunity youth in the greater Austin area, according to American Communities survey data.
On November 9, Workforce Solutions Capital Area joined many of our partners to host Youth Career Day: Networking & Job Fair at Austin Central Library. About 100 youth from around Central Texas networked with professionals and recruiters in high-demand industries, learned about high-wage and high-growth careers in Austin and how to network and prepare for mock interviews with employers.
Guest speakers offering career and education advice were Chante Braswell with HID Global, Michael Ward Jr. with Austin Urban Technology Movement, Shechem Sauls with CommUnity Care, and Farhan Manjiyani with Rev.com.
Youth Career Day also featured a panel with representatives of local employers sharing tips for how to succeed in a first job (moderated by a student from American YouthWorks!). On the panel were Carmen Cardenas with CommUnity Care, Shawn Nelson with Continental Auto Group, and Brian Peabody with Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 286, and Alex Popwell with Rev.com.
The day also featured presentations on interviewing by Dr. Katie Bradford of the Moody College of Communication at UT Austin and on soft skills by Megan Richardson at Goodwill Central Texas.
Isaac Torres with the Make It Movement spoke about how youth can create their purpose statement to determine what they are meant to do in life rather than just what they are told to do.
Following the panels and presentations was a networking and job fair with more than 30 employers and training partners participated, including American YouthWorks, Goodwill Central Texas, Lifeworks, Make It Movement, and Skillpoint Alliance.
For Berenice Lopez, the best part of the event was the fact Youth Career Day was her first ever job fair.
Renee Williamson, another student, said, “My favorite part of the day was everything!”
“This day is so important because we need to inspire a whole new generation that there is a way to make good money, earn a skill and build a career in a short time after they leave high school,” Isaac said. “If they have the will, we will show them how to make it.”
SaulPaul, a rapper from Houston and member of the Make It Movement, emceed Youth Career Day.
“This year, not only did I get to emcee as in host, but also emcee as in make some music. We had some amazing guests come up on stage—it was interactive, it was engaging,” SaulPaul said.
Youth Career Day concluded with raffle prizes for youth who completed a passport with questions to ask the vendors to gain experience networking and job searching.
Workforce Solutions Capital Area is the backbone member of the Austin Opportunity Youth Collaborative (AOYC). This consortium of greater Austin-area community groups, represent a long history of providing coordinated services to youth. AOYC collaborates to amplify a focus on opportunity youth for education initiatives that provide employment training opportunities and lead to jobs. Learn more about how we support opportunity youth in Austin.
Our thanks to our Youth Career Day sponsors for their generous contributions:
Technology is a growing industry in the Austin area. As more tech employers grow their presence and develop their workforce here, WFS Capital Area will be helping to build connections and opportunities for tech businesses and workers to be more productive.
Leading our efforts is Jessica Camarillo, our new Director of Technology Partnerships! We posed six questions to Jessica to get to know her better.
Are you part of Austin’s tech scene? Contact Jessica to explore how you and WFS Capital Area can work together: 512.799.3709 | Jessica.Camarillo@wfscapitalarea.com
Why did you apply for the Director of IT Partnerships role?
My passion is to support marginalized Austinites as they lead their families and communities out of poverty through ambition and dedicated work. With a projected 38,000 openings in the industry from 2021-2024, tech is full of opportunity for residents to gain life-changing employment.
I went from paycheck-to-paycheck to actively working toward creating generational wealth for my family thanks to my work in tech. I started my career in the industry almost three years ago as the Director of Marketing with the Austin Technology Council. In that role, I connected and built relationships with hundreds of tech leaders, never experiencing a dull moment with the group.
Knowing what the tech industry did for me and thoroughly enjoying the relationships I formed with tech leaders, I am eager to build a business-led program that will bridge the divide between businesses looking for amazing talent and the potential I see in traditionally disenfranchised Austinites. I can’t wait to connect with innovative leaders to build a diverse talent pipeline for years to come.
How was your first week at Workforce Solutions Capital Area?
My first week was fantastic. I really enjoyed meeting my new colleagues and am vigorously absorbing as much as I can to set a strong foundation for the program’s success. It’s like the first day of school! I’m a nerd and loved school.
Where are you from originally?
El Chuco! Or, in laymen’s terms: El Paso, Texas. Lower Valley ‘til I die.
Do you have any pets?
I have two perr-hijos (aka fur babies). Eleven, a two-year-old Lab mix, and Daxter, a seven-year-old Jack Russell Terrier mix. There’s a lot of crazy energy at my house.
What new things have you added to your life during COVID?
I started dancing with Roy Lozano’s Ballet Folklorico group. I had to find something to get me out of the house and keep me sane. It’s been a great experience. Our next performance is in December at the Austin ISD Performance Arts Center. Come enjoy the show!
Post-COVID, what are you most excited to do?
I can’t wait to start up family get-togethers and birthday parties more regularly. Like everyone else, I have severe decision fatigue when it comes to events, so it would be nice to plan without pausing to think about all the steps we need to take to have a COVID-free good time.
This summer, Workforce Solutions Capital Area (WFS) partnered with local school districts and employers from various industries for the 2nd annual Teacher Externship Program.
Why it matters: WFS’ Teacher Externship 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.
How it started: In 2019, WFS served 50 Austin ISD educators in an in-person capacity.
In 2021, WFS coordinated a hybrid externship with in-person and virtual options for educators and employers in the Travis County area.
This year’s program doubled the number of educators served the first year, thanks to relationships cultivated by WFS’ career and education outreach specialists.
2021 Teacher Externship Program, by the numbers:
99 teachers and counselors got connected with three-day externships.
Districts represented include Austin, Del Valle, Eanes, Elgin, Manor, and Pflugerville. Schools represented include Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, KIPP Austin, and Cedars International Academy Schools.
Several educators from Goodwill’s Excel Center also participated.
27 employers hosted teachers. Employers include those represented on WFS’ board, such as Samsung Austin Semiconductor, Ascension Seton, St. David’s, Athena Manufacturing, multiple departments with the City of Austin, and more.
Courtesy: Austin Infiniti
How it works:
During the externship, the employer host provides a teacher or counselor with the opportunity to observe and speak to employees and management about the skills, certifications, and career pathways within the employer host’s organization.
Through a partnership with Nepris, WFS purchased licenses for career exploration software for teachers who do not have access to it through their ISDs.
WFS also leveraged Texas Workforce Commission funding to provide $500 stipends to each educator who participated.
After completing their externships, the teachers must create lesson plans based on their experiences for use in the classroom.
Courtesy: PSI Urethanes
What they’re saying:
Lois Tiller, learning operations supervisor for technical training at Samsung Austin Semiconductor: “The interaction between employers and teachers is very beneficial in the development of programs that advance the future workforce.”
Mark Bailey, fixed operations director at Austin Infiniti: “This program is a win-win for all involved.”
Aimee Finney, a teacher with AISD: “This was amazing. I had no clue how energy worked, but being paired up with Austin Energy, I was able to learn about the importance of serving the community and how working for the city creates a diverse collection of workers to better serve everyone.”
Tamara Bell, a teacher with Del Valle ISD hosted by EA (Electronic Arts): “I loved the diversity of all of [EA’s] employees and loved that not everyone had a technology background.
“Another impressive aspect of the externship was how EA has integrated Inclusion and Diversity throughout their organization with advocacy groups. This initiative not only creates awareness of other cultures but also helps under-represented population employees gain the skills they need to rise up the corporate ladder.”
Workforce Solutions Capital Area (WFS) partners with over 3,000 local businesses to invest in workforce development efforts in Central Texas. But we know that’s just a drop in the bucket. Over the past year, virtually every employer in our region is confronting unprecedented challenges in recruiting, retaining, and developing a skilled workforce.
To solve for these issues, Austin companies are leading the way by implementing upskilling strategies that provide pathways for long-term economic growth for their business, employees, and community.
WFS recognized six companies as 2021 Upskilling HEROES for building a higher-skilled workforce and more competitive economy through upskilling strategies:
Greystar Real Estate Partners
Recover Or Sacrifice Everything (ROSE) Counseling Center
Samsung Austin Semiconductor
Seedlings Gardening
Total Care Provider
Wells Solar & Electrical Services
Between these six companies, a total of 3,429 employees were upskilled, helping them upgrade their skill sets, earn higher wages while employed at the company, and remain competitive in the local workforce.
These companies’ decisions to invest in their employees addresses critical hiring needs and skills gaps and creates a steady pipeline of pre-vetted talent. Proactively developing a workforce with the precise skills, credentials, and experience that each business requires to fill critical positions has advanced these businesses as industry leaders in our region.
Companies are eligible for the award by participating in the annual Austin-Travis County Upskilling Survey, where WFS tracks companies that are increasing employee wages above $58,000 per year to get a pulse of the region’s economic health. By understanding the landscape of existing upskilling efforts, the Capital Area workforce board can demonstrate return on investment and advocate for additional funding to support local workforce development efforts.
Click here to learn more about the Upskilling Survey and Upskilling HEROES award.
The Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) program provides funding assistance to qualifying employers to provide skills training to current full-time, permanent employees. Through federal funds and a match from the employer, a worker can receive training at no cost to them.
The Need
Patient’s Premier Choice (PPC), a pediatric home health care agency serving patients in the Austin metro area, sought to invest in growing the skills of their workforce by advancing employees’ careers and provide a greater quality of care to patients.
This is a tool to show appreciation to your staff, to reduce the financial burden of upskilling and training your staff, and also to increase retention. And that is so important because it cost a lot of money to hire and train your employees and you want to invest in this asset.
Linh Tu, owner and CEO
The Solution
PPC worked with Workforce Solutions and Austin Community College to train PPC’s Licensed Vocational Nurses:
Upskill into Registered Nurses: PPC employees took a two-year training, which results in a certification, with ACC.
Provide flexible schedules: PPC adjusted employees’ work schedules around their training to ensure they were never placed in a financial burden while learning.
Reach a younger generation of nurses: PPC’s participation in this program demonstrates the company’s commitment to investing in their nurses’ career progression.
Overcoming Challenges and Investing in Workforce
Growing the skill sets of employees is a valuable investment for businesses to ensure they have the qualified talent they need. Incumbent Worker Training helps overcome challenges to start upskilling.
Outcomes/Benefits
Many of PCC’s employees are single parents. Offering a flexible training schedule to upskill improves the quality of life for employees and patients alike, while increasing wages for working nurses. For PPC, participating in this program ensures the company has a qualified workforce to meet growing demand and changes in the healthcare industry.
To help build a highly skilled workforce in Texas, the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) offers programs like the Skills Development Fund (SDF). This upskilling program provides site-specific, customized training opportunities for Texas businesses and their employees. In 2020, TWC launched the SDF COVID-19 Special Initiative to provide companies rapid training as the workforce shifted. One company seeking to increase skill levels and wages with the SDF Special Initiative is MoboTrex.
MoboTrex is a manufacturing and distribution company for traffic control products. The company is headquartered in Iowa and has facilities around the country, with the primary manufacturing facility in Austin. At this location, MoboTrex builds everything from traffic and pedestrian signals to cabinets for electronics. More than 100 people work at the Austin facility.
Leveraging SDF for virtual supervisory training In 2020, MoboTrex applied for a Supervisor Training grant through SDF, with assistance from Workforce Solutions Capital Area and Austin Regional Manufacturers Association. Four employees graduated the training in February 2021. MoboTrex values internal training and continued to offer it to employees despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Staci Lange, Chief Operating Officer.
The doors for this opportunity first opened in fall 2020 when Staci was contacted by Amber Warne, Director of Upskilling and Advancement for Workforce Solutions Capital Area.
“Our busy season had just wrapped up and I thought this was great because we have a number of workers who can use this training,” Staci said. “We had stopped training when COVID19 hit, so I asked if we could do this later. Amber said yes and set it up. She was very helpful with the forms and made this a seamless process.”
The trainer contacted Staci to help schedule the training and prepare all materials in advance. “Initiating a training usually requires more administrative overhead, but this was seamless,” Staci said.
Upskilling teams at no cost The supervisory training was held virtually over eight weeks—four hours a day, two days a week by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC). Topics included how to manage employees and what operations supervisors need to know day-to-day.
“The feedback I got from those who participated was positive,” Staci said. “They said they learned a lot.”
The pandemic had forced businesses like MoboTrex to pause employee development initiatives like supervisory training, but with SDF and assistance from Workforce Solutions, the initiatives could resume.
What would MoboTrex have done if this funding wasn’t available?
“We probably wouldn’t have been able to offer the training. We have a nice training facility onsite, but we shut down most of our training for social distancing,” Staci said.
“If you don’t have internal resources, or due to COVID you can’t use them in a regular manner, then the remote nature of this training will be particularly helpful. If you are onboarding your supervisors and they need training, then it is something to look at,” said Staci.
“So much of our training is an interactive process. We want to grow and develop our employees, not just check off a box,” said Staci.
“If other opportunities to upskill our team at no cost present themselves, we are definitely interested in pursuing them. We appreciate the offer: it was well received and a well-done investment.”
Upgrade your workforce’s skills with Workforce Solutions Capital Area Is your organization seeking no-cost opportunities to sharpen your workers’ skills? Workforce Solutions can help! Visit our Employee Skills Training page to start and download your copy of the Upskilling Toolkit to learn how upskilling your employees can help develop your talent!
As the pandemic and economic downturn yielded deep hardship and put tens of thousands out of work in Central Texas, Workforce Solutions Capital Area took many steps to rapidly and urgently respond. Among other strategies, we found new ways to collaborate with the private sector to address employers’ workforce needs and help connect unemployed or underemployed Texas workers with training and job opportunities in thriving industries.
Accenture, a company with more than 3,500 employees in Central Texas, stepped forward to provide resources and expertise. They helped us navigate this period of disruption as we worked through the pandemic and economic crisis to come out stronger and more resilient for the future.
We are in a period of tremendous change. Some of this change is permanent – for instance, widespread adoption of remote working – and we have embraced upskilling strategies to help prepare companies for the changing workforce needs. Utilizing a data-driven, employer-focused approach, Workforce Solutions Capital Area is more capable of leading the way to a new era of prosperity for Central Texas.
Accenture was vital in helping us assess where we were and creating a plan for upgrading our support for local companies. They contributed a team with deep expertise in workforce research, data science and analytics, training, and strategic planning to help us improve how we determine skill gaps and engage with and support businesses.
Thanks to three months of working closely together, we now have a new “Go to Employer” strategy. The components include data-driven outreach to companies hiring for hard-to-fill jobs, an employer recognition program for upskilling, tools for tracking progress, and critical information to understand regional needs.
Accenture works to help organizations “deliver on the promise of technology and human ingenuity” and embrace change. We are glad to have had their support to advance a top strategic priority through a challenging time, such as we’ve never seen before.
I’m proud to report that with Accenture’s help, we have substantially advanced our abilities to help connect Central Texas workers with jobs, doing so in a way that better supports broad-based prosperity in the community and more sustainable economic growth. Through partners like Accenture, we can expand our upskilling efforts and prepare for the changing workforce.
Leveraging SDF for virtual supervisory training
Upskilling teams at no cost