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Category: Mobility, Infrastructure & Skilled Trades

With $25B in projects on tap, new Austin infrastructure academy gets green light

A plan to establish a new Austin infrastructure academy is taking shape, with the aim of ensuring the city’s workforce is equipped to meet the demands placed upon it by $25 billion in transportation-related projects over the coming years.

City Council approved a resolution March 7 that directs city staff to begin laying the groundwork for the new school and training network. The list of transformational projects on tap for Austin includes a 10-mile light rail route, a new concourse at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and the expansion of Interstate 35 through the center of the city.

Workforce Solutions Capital Area, a nonprofit workforce development organization, also is set to play a central role in the founding of the new institution.

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March 7, 2024
Austin creates academy for construction workers as city faces historic amount of infrastructure

Thousands of workers are needed for big construction projects happening all around Austin.

Mayor Kirk Watson, along with the support of several Austin council members are pushing for an infrastructure academy to be a training hub for the city.

They hope a partnership with Workforce Solutions will help get construction workers, skilled trade individuals and the project managers they need to build the infrastructure.

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March 7, 2024
Austin’s Workforce Solutions Capital Area receives 2024 ‘Trailblazer’ Award from the National Association of Workforce Boards

Austin/Travis County workforce board recognized for role in establishing Central Texas’ first-ever Mobility Industry Sector Partnership

AUSTIN, Texas–Workforce Solutions Capital Area, the non-profit organization that serves as the leadership and governing body for the Austin/Travis County area workforce system, has received national honors in the highly competitive National Association of Workforce Boards 2024 Awards, which recognize exceptional initiatives by workforce organizations and their partners.

Winner of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Trailblazer Award for efforts put into projects, strategic planning, and unique labor and demand forecast, WFSCA received merit for its role in establishing the first-ever Mobility Industry Sector Partnership with local transit authority CapMetro and Austin Transit Partnership in 2023.

“I’m incredibly proud of our team and our partners for supporting us in creating and implementing comprehensive workforce solutions to connect thousands more local people to jobs and careers in the burgeoning mobility and infrastructure sector,” Tamara Atkinson, CEO of Workforce Solutions Capital Area, said. “I also want to thank Mayor Kirk Watson and Travis County Judge Andy Brown for co-chairing the Mobility and Infrastructure Leadership Group and their efforts to provide local people with life-long career opportunities.”

Since the Mobility Industry Sector Partnership was initiated last year, WFSCA and partners have established a policy leadership group and a working industry group, which have engaged stakeholders and led focus groups, analysis and a comprehensive research study. The study, ‘Building a Robust Labor Force to Deliver Generational Infrastructure,’ provided crucial insights into the sector by examining the existing capacity of Austin’s mobility and infrastructure workforce, forecasting its growth trajectory until 2040, and presenting solutions that exist both nationally and within the region to fortify the workforce development ecosystem.

The WIOA Trailblazer Award will be presented this month at The Forum 2024 in Washington, D.C., a conference specifically for workforce development leaders, businesses and educators.

“I’m thankful for the training providers, community-based organizations, and job creators who have come together in our Mobility Industry Sector Partnership to innovate, inspire, and impact workforce development in ways that truly make a difference,” Mark Sherry, board chair at Workforce Solutions Capital Area, said. “It truly feels like we are setting the pace with this work and blazing a trail forward.”

For more information about Workforce Solutions Capital Area, please visit www.wfscapitalarea.com.

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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.

March 6, 2024
Austin mayor announces new infrastructure academy to build construction workforce

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson announced Wednesday plans for a new infrastructure academy to help build a local pipeline of workers for major construction and transportation projects in the region.

It’s tied to an agenda item that the city council will take up March 7.

Workforce Solutions Capital Area is one of the organizations working with the mayor on this initiative. Chief Executive Officer Tamara Atkinson said this would be the first academy of its kind in the country.

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February 28, 2024
Desmond Roberson is Helping to Literally Build Austin’s Infrastructure
Mobility and infrastructure is an industry in Central Texas that encompasses more than roads, buses and trains. There’s also the construction and skilled trades workers necessary to build and maintain these systems. Desmond Roberson is one of these needed workers and he is not just building a career in Austin—he’s helping to literally build Austin.

Desmond has lived in Austin all his life. Today he is a member of Sheet Metal Workers Local Union No 67. Working in Austin’s skilled trades industry wasn’t his original plan but today Desmond is satisfied with a career that lets him work with his hands.

“I started with the Sheet Metal Workers in 2019,” Desmond said. “I was in the construction program at American YouthWorks so this kind of work wasn’t new to me. At the time, I was out of school and had been trouble a couple times and was working a temp job. When I was let go, I remembered I could always come back to American YouthWorks for help.”

Desmond did ask for help, which is where he learned about the Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3).
- This nationally recognized program introduces students to the different building trades and teaches them the skills necessary to successfully apply for a registered apprenticeship, debt-free, over a two-week training time.
- Desmond enrolled in the May 2019 class, which was held at Local 67 in partnership with Plumbers & Pipefitters Local Union 286.
As the training days passed, Desmond gathered many positive impressions of work in the skilled trades: “I liked how you are not just in a class. In the MC3 program, you do what you have to do and stay on task—and you will get a job. You receive an opportunity to elevate your life,” he said.

“You learn what each trade is and what the work is like, so you can determine which is the best suit for you. You have the option and freedom to choose where to branch off into after graduating” Desmond said.

“I chose the sheet metal union because my MC3 class was in their union hall. I saw those workers and how they were like a brotherhood and thought that was a good suit for me,” said Desmond.

Desmond joined the Registered Apprenticeship program with Local 67 in August 2019 and began working in the union’s shop. “In this trade, you go from the shop to the field,” he said.

“At first, I was making ductwork from scratch, taking sheet metal and making bins. Now I am working downtown on Colorado and Sixth streets. I think it’s amazing. In the field, I install the ducts in the units. I can see the whole process of the project.”

For young people who are unsure what to do next in life, like Desmond once was, he offers some advice.

“I grew up around a lot of people who made mistakes growing up. When I post work videos on social media, they see me and wonder how I am able to do this. I tell them to get with the MC3 program. I want to lead people to this program. If you have the will to better your life, the program is there for you,” Desmond said.

If you are interested in enrolling for job training, whether in the skilled trades or another growing industry in Austin, visit our Job Training page to get started.
February 21, 2024
Austin-Round Rock metro has more women in construction than national average

The Austin-Round Rock metro area is above the national average for the number of women working in local construction, but still lags behind 27 other cities, according to data from the company Construction Coverage.

According to data from Workforce Solutions Capital Area, women made up 10% of Austin area construction workers in 2022. For Workforce Solutions Capital Area program manager Michelle Buford, the increase is positive as barriers to entry begin to erode.

“It used to be a male-dominated field. But women can do just as well in this industry as men,” Buford said. “I honestly believe it has a lot to do with the change in attitudes of the folks that would normally employ folks into this. [The unions] are recruiting women, they’re talking to women…we have folks in our community who know that we need to increase the number of women that enter these fields.”

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February 7, 2024
Building a Robust Labor Force to Deliver Generational Infrastructure
Considering the imminent arrival of several large-scale projects, Austin must prepare itself for the heightened demand for M+I workers. Building A Robust Labor Force to Deliver Generational Infrastructure is Central Texas’ first-ever labor and demand forecast for the mobility and infrastructure (M+I) sector, initiated to inform the region’s action plan for connecting local people to the thousands of jobs and careers created by the M+I industries.

Why it matters: With the investment in transformational regional infrastructure, we can address Austin’s affordability challenges by creating family-supporting jobs and sustainable career pathways, while improving regional mobility.
- Austin can cultivate a strong and skilled labor force capable of undertaking these large-scale mobility and infrastructure projects, thereby redefining economic development prospects to foster prosperity for all.
Big picture: Austin, now the ninth-largest city in the nation, has grown by 14% in the past five years, sparking increased demand for new housing, improved roads, and other infrastructure enhancements.
- This rapid expansion underscores the critical need for a robust M+I workforce, equipped to manage, supervise, and construct infrastructure projects.
- Currently, Austin’s M+I sector employs over 222,000 workers, positioning it as the region’s second-largest sector, surpassing both healthcare and advanced manufacturing.
Zoom out: The M+I industry has gained significant national attention, with the implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPS and Science Act, resulting in a historic investment of $2.5T.
- A significant portion of this funding, approximately $500 billion, is allocated to infrastructure projects and is closely linked to workforce development.[1] Consequently, the M+I industry urgently requires a forward-looking workforce development system.
- Approximately 1.7M workers leave their positions annually, highlighting the substantial efforts needed to fill these vacancies. The recent federal legislation is anticipated to generate an additional 1.5M jobs annually.[2]
- Of note: The industry has been criticized for its lack of inclusivity towards younger workers, women, and people of color. Therefore, inclusive training programs targeting non-traditional populations and providing access to well-paying jobs are imperative to meet the escalating demand for projects.
Bottom line: Our research provides crucial insights into the M+I sector by examining the existing capacity of Austin’s M+I workforce, forecasting its growth trajectory until 2040, and presenting solutions that exist both nationally and within the region to fortify the workforce development ecosystem.

The 10 most relevant trends for defining the current gaps and future opportunities in the M+I sector are:
1. 10,000 M+I jobs created annually through 2040.
2. The region’s existing skill shortages could hamper project success.
3. Even the deepest wells of talent will be spread thin.
4. A 4,000 annual training gap could exacerbate skill shortages.
5. 6 in 10 M+I workers earn a prevailing wage.
6. Women account for only 14% of the M+I workforce.
7. Automation is set to impact M+I jobs more significantly than most other sectors.
8. Employers seem to be disconnected from the skilled trade talent pool within the region.
9. There is no consistent standard training period for the region’s M+I training initiatives.
10. Present-day recruiting methods in the M+I sector are limited.
GO DEEPER:
- Executive summary
- Full research deck
If you are a job creator who recruits for roles or coordinates contracts or training for jobs in the M+I landscape — everything from transit operators to mechanics and engineers — your voice is needed. Sign up to learn more about the industry sector partnership and to join us for future work sessions.

Workforce Solutions Capital Area is on point to gauge how our community meets the moment and fills the roles this burgeoning economic sector will require, alongside Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, Travis County Judge Andy Brown, and their appointed Mobility & Infrastructure Leadership Group. An action plan is in development by the Leadership Group to bring thousands more residents into M+I jobs in our region. One of the first action items from this partnership was to deliver this research study.

[1] Ross, Martha, Joseph Kane, Felix Laniyan, and Annelies Goger. “How State and Local Leaders Can Harness New Infrastructure Funding to Build a Stronger, More Inclusive Workforce.” Brookings, March 24, 2023. https://www.brookings.edu/research/how-state-and-local-leaders-can-harness-new-infrastructure-funding-to-build-a-stronger-more-inclusive-workforce/.
[2] Kane, Joseph. “Seizing the U.S. Infrastructure Opportunity: Investing in Current and Future Workers
November 8, 2023
Planned Capital Projects Could Create 10,000 Central Texas Jobs Annually

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, in partnership with Workforce Solutions Capital Area, Austin Transit Partnership and CapMetro, recently shared study findings and actions for growing the region’s mobility and infrastructure workforce to meet the demands of upcoming capital projects during the ‘Moving Forward: Mobility & Infrastructure Workforce Summit’ held in Austin last week.

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October 18, 2023
Study: 10,000 more infrastructure, mobility jobs needed per year in Austin through 2040

Austin will need to fill 10,000 more infrastructure and mobility jobs per year through 2040, an October study from Austin-based consulting firm CivicSol found.

Industry leaders are anticipating the job opening boom over the next two decades as the city gears up for several main capital projects, including the I-35 widening plan, the Austin-Bergstrom Airport expansion and Project Connect.

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October 17, 2023
10K new workers needed every year to support Austin’s multibillion-dollar mobility projects

A bigger airport. A larger I-35. More trains.

There are lofty plans to invest billions of dollars in Austin’s infrastructure in the coming decades, but it will take a monumental hiring spree to make that happen.

It’s estimated that the area will need an additional 10,000 workers each year for the next 17 years to meet the city’s infrastructure goals, according to a study from Austin-based consulting firm Civic Solutions Partnership. This required boost to the region’s workforce will effectively double the number of mobility and infrastructure occupations in the area, which is already growing organically each year by about 38%, according to the study.

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October 17, 2023