Affordability in Austin has been at the forefront of conversations for years as many residents struggle to afford to live in the area, citing the high housing prices, stagnant wages and other increased cost of living factors, such as childcare and groceries.
On Wednesday, Amplify Credit Union hosted an affordability summit at Austin PBS, bringing together experts in the workforce and finance sectors to discuss the future of affordability in Austin and how to address it.
Panelists Tamara Atkinson, CEO of Workforce Solutions Capital Area; Lourdes G. Zuniga, executive director of Financial Health Pathways; and Joana Ortiz, president and CEO of Austin Young Chamber, said solving affordability issues takes using a people-first approach.
Workforce Solutions Capital Area (WFS) is the leadership and governing body for the Austin-Travis County workforce system. We are responsible for the planning, oversight, and evaluation of workforce development activities in the Capital Area, which has one of the most booming job landscapes in the country right now.
So that Austin area businesses and organizations can better understand the local business climate — particularly industry growth and expansion — our new report offers a deep analysis of the region’s labor market to identify and understand our target industries. These are the top industries experiencing substantial growth with opportunities for higher earning potential.
Read the report to see who’s hiring, the competition for talent in fast-growing industries, and where to look for strategies to attract and retain that talent.
Grow your business through talent: Workforce Solutions is uniquely positioned to help employers of all industries directly connect with local job seekers and talent. We’re collaborative and can tailor services based on your company needs. Get started.
Tamara Atkinson, CEO of Workforce Solutions Capital Area, delves into the role the organization plays in shaping the future of Austin’s workforce. We’ll explore how Workforce Solutions Capital Area supports the local workforce, what is the state of the talent market today, and how the region is balancing the constant shifts of supply and demand for labor and skills.
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.
Austin’s job market growth is outpacing the rest of the U.S. According to Workforce Solutions Capital Area, 172,194 new jobs were added to the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown metro area between 2016 and 2021, representing a 16.0% job growth increase and far surpassing the U.S.’s 1.8% increase during the same period. In the five-year period from 2021 to 2026, our region is forecasted to grow an additional 12.5%, nearly three times more than what the U.S. is expected to grow.
Failing to meet this demand for qualified local candidates could hinder our region’s continued development. All employers worldwide are having difficulty finding skilled workers to fit their needs for the in-demand digital jobs of tomorrow. According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), in 2021 alone, the number of available jobs in the technology sector nearly doubled; however, the pool of available applicants shrank by nearly 25%. As a result, the WEF says companies estimate that 50% of all employees will need reskilling. Closing this digital skills gap could add $11.5 trillion to global GDP by 2028. This skills gap poses a hurdle to global economic growth, and inevitably, growth in Austin as well.
Growing a world-class competitive workforce is our business, and we listen and work closely with employers to help build a workforce that meets the needs of today. As one approach to our work, our team of Career & Education Outreach Specialists continue offering guidance to our region’s future skilled workforce, connecting schools and employers to support students in developing in-demand academic and technical skills for today’s workforce.
The Need
The importance of building a higher skilled workforce to fill in-demand roles such as those in tech, infrastructure/mobility, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and skilled trades/construction is even more apparent in today’s talent shortage. The demand for skilled workers is made more urgent by demographic shifts in the labor markets and increasing retirements.
The Solution
Each summer, Workforce Solutions Capital Area partners with local school districts and employers from various industries for the Teacher Externship Program. Through this program, we’re able to:
Strengthening relationships: Teachers are able to connect with local employers and get hands-on exposure to the high-demand skills, certifications and education required for a variety of high-wage, high-growth careers in Austin. Local companies’ employees are also able to connect with various community engagement opportunities.
Develop in-demand skills: At the end of the program, participating educators develop an industry-led lesson plan to share with students in their classrooms.
Partnerships and Enabling Public Policies
In addition to the connections and data-informed curriculum created through the externship program to, the program also provides additional benefits to the schools and participating teachers. In 2022, we also partnered with Nepris to purchase licenses for career exploration software for teachers who do not have access to it through their ISDs. We also leveraged Texas Workforce Commission funding to provide $500 stipends to each educator who participated.
Outcomes/Benefits
We have strengthened relationships with local school districts to connect with the next generation of skilled talent. Ninety-nine teachers and counselors connected with three-day externships. Districts represented include Austin, Cypress, Del Valle, Eanes, Elgin, Manor, and Pflugerville. Schools represented include Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired and the Goodwill’s Excel Center. 28 employers hosted teachers. Employers include those represented on WFS’ board, such as Ascension Seton, Athena Manufacturing, and more. We look forward to continue this effort, raising awareness to our emerging workforce of quality career pathways.
The labor market across the country has changed significantly since 2020, leaving employers struggling to fill roles and retain employees as businesses compete for talent. A new Texas Workforce Commission report out this month found the unemployment rate in Austin is the lowest it has been since the coronavirus pandemic began, sitting at 2.5%.
There’s no doubt that Austin is booming. More and more major companies are moving here, shifting the needs and makeup of our workforce. With that shift, we’ve seen housing demand and home values rise exponentially – more than 25% – over the past year. As our city continues to grow and companies announce plans to relocate or open businesses in Austin, we must ensure that we’re building a highly skilled workforce and strong local talent pool from which they can hire. This is one of the keys to mitigating the rising cost of living and stopping longtime residents from being pushed out of our city and left behind.
Two long years after the pandemic first struck our region, it looks like we’re finally coming out on the other side. Today, the local economy is booming and many employers are hiring. Still, not everyone is benefiting from the growth and opportunity that has blessed our great city. Equity and skills gaps have become even more exacerbated.
Our community has a growing affordability crisis and yet there are more good, high-paying jobs available than skilled workers. But there is a bright spot: individuals who complete training through Workforce Solutions Capital Area increase their annual wages by an average of $30,000.
In many cases, scholarship funds are available for workers who want to obtain training that can increase their earning potential and help them compete in the current and future job market.
Here’s the bottom line: We haven’t stopped pushing forward our mission to connect local people to local jobs, and we’re only scaling up. I’m thankful for the 37 WFS team members and many community partners — both new and longstanding — working with us to respond to the needs of now.
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.
Bearded Brothers has produced organic snack bars for 11 years and today employs eight people. The company is building its talented workforce by relying on partners like Workforce Solutions Capital Area and no-cost training resources like the Certified Production Technician program.
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.
We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience and analyze our traffic. By clicking “Accept All” you consent to our use of cookies. Privacy Policy
