As sourced through the Texas Workforce Commission, Austin’s October unemployment rate is the lowest among the Texas major metros at 5.1%.
Texas unemployment: 6.7%
U.S. unemployment: 6.6%
Texas major metro unemployment rates:
Dallas/Ft. Worth/Arlington: 6.1%
Houston: 7.7%
El Paso: 7.2%
San Antonio/New Braunfels: 6.3%
Below are the October unemployment rates for regions the Austin metro typically competes with for major economic development projects. So, in an apples-to-apples comparison, we are better than some, but not all, metro areas.
As the pandemic continues, the importance of creating safe and nurturing spaces for the children of working parents in Austin becomes more apparent. Many providers have limited resources, but seek to continue offering care. To support them, Workforce Solutions Capital Area held curbside pickup events for providers to receive cleaning and PPE supplies at no cost on November 20-21 at First Workers Day Labor Center in Austin. The supplies included 200,000 face masks donated by Bank of America.
Over the two days, 181 providers picked up pallets of supplies, including hand soap and sanitizer, gloves and paper towels, bath tissue and bleach. These providers care for 7,074 children across Travis County.
Heather Pate with Workforce Solutions Capital Area gives face masks donated from Bank of America to Stacy Jo Signaigo with Manor ISD.
Stacy Jo Signaigo is the Early Childhood Director for Manor ISD. She works at Manor ISD Child Development Center, which cares for 65 children.
“I was very excited to hear about today’s event. It’s very hard to find supplies for child care, so these supplies really help because everybody is out of them for the quantities we need,” Stacy Jo said.
“We are currently open, serving children and cleaning all the time. We are a nationally accredited school, so a lot of the things that were put in place by the city, we were already doing more than the minimum, we were already doing a lot of those things,” said Stacy Jo. “Thank you so much, Workforce Solutions and Bank of America, we really appreciate it.”
Another provider who received supplies was Patsy Harnage, owner and director of Bright Beginnings Child Development Center in North Austin. Her center cares for 60 children.
“I was just so grateful for this event. With supplies being scare and money being tight due to low enrollment, this was a godsend,” Patsy said.
Workforce Solutions Capital Area coordinated the pickup of five truckloads of supplies.
“We are in need more of cleaning supplies, bleach, masks, gloves. We go through gloves and paper towels like water. We go through these the most because of the constant cleaning and washing hands. This is for the children and the staff, we have a whole lot going on,” Patsy said.
“I want to thank Workforce Solutions Capital Area and Bank of America for lightening the burden we are experiencing from limited supplies. We are forever grateful for your support and generosity,” Patsy added.
Mary DiPasquale with Workforce Solutions Capital Area, Patsy Harnage of Bright Beginnings Child Development Center, and Heather Pate with Workforce Solutions Capital Area hold boxes of face masks donated from Bank of America.
Our curbside pickup event, by the numbers:
5 truckloads of supplies
5,400 items
24,176 pounds
Workforce Solutions Capital Area is committed to supporting providers in Austin who care for the children of our region’s workforce. By providing care in a safe and nurturing environment, Austin’s child care providers are helping to develop a future workforce that is skilled and productive. Learn more about how we support child care providers on our website.
Advanced manufacturing is a growing industry in Central Texas. For people who are interested in joining this industry and launching a productive career, Workforce Solutions Capital Area offers the Certified Production Technician program! Seven people participated in the latest cohort with Skillpoint Alliance and graduated on November 13, 2020.
The CPT program is funded by Texas Mutual Insurance Company and the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, and offered by Workforce Solutions Capital Area in partnership with Austin Community College, Skillpoint Alliance, and the Austin Regional Manufacturers Association.
Students complete 6 weeks of virtual training at no cost. Upon graduation, students can earn an industry-recognized certificate and become ready to join a growing industry!
“The most enlightening thing about this are all the different skills I learned—a lot of things I was interested to learn about but never had the resources to begin,” said Brian Schwaegel, who next plans to apply at a semiconductor manufacturer.
Charles Willy, who moved to Austin from Rwanda, has always liked technology. “I started working at a technology company in Austin, but in a warehouse. I was curious about working in the clean room and wanted to know how to do that kind of work. With this course, I have learned that,” Charles said.
Instructor Justin Frost said, “It’s fun to challenge people to learn all these new terms and concepts. I love to see people grow and learn and become qualified candidates in this industry.”
Samsung Austin Semiconductor is a large employer in Austin’s semiconductor manufacturing industry. Some of their training team helped lead the instruction of the CPT program.
“We are excited to help you learn how to enter an industry that is rich with opportunities and look forward to seeing some of your smiling faces here and putting the CPT skills you worked so hard to earn to task here at Samsung!” Lois Tiller, Learning Operations Supervisor- Technical Training at Samsung Austin Semiconductor, said.
As manufacturing employers demand more skilled workers, Workforce Solutions Capital Area and partners like Skillpoint Alliance will help make the connection with training programs like CPT.
“The connection to employment is why what we do what we do. We are always working to ensure you have plenty of options to learn new skills and find employment,” said Weston Sythoff, Partnership Manager for Skillpoint Alliance.
Join us for National Apprenticeship Week–November 8 -14, 2020!
National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) is a celebration by leaders in business, labor, education, and other critical partners nationwide, and an opportunity to demonstrate our support for apprenticeship. NAW also gives apprenticeship sponsors a perfect time to showcase their programs, facilities, and apprentices in their community.
This weeklong event highlights the benefits of apprenticeship in preparing a highly-skilled workforce to meet the talent needs of employers across diverse industries. Registered apprenticeship programs are gateways to good middle-class jobs in the US construction industry. People interested in a career in skilled trades can begin with the Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3) and pick up the tools and techniques for occupations ranging from plumbing and electrical work to sheet metal and iron work, and do it under the guidance of master craftworkers.
On November 12, join us for the Trade Up Texas Virtual Fair from 10 am to 4 pm! Central Texas students and job seekers will explore skilled-trade careers. Hosted by Workforce Solutions Capital Area and Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area. Our thanks to our partners Texas Mutual Insurance Company, KVUE, the Austin Regional Manufacturers Association, and Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 286. Trade Up Texas is sponsored by Texas Mutual Insurance Company.
If you’re interested in participating in NAW, then visit the Department of Labor website to find a NAW event near you. Job seekers can connect with employers investing in their workforce through apprenticeship at Apprenticeship.gov. Do you have something planned for celebrating NAW? Tell us about it in a comment below!
Explore on-the-job training & apprenticeship opportunities
Join live seminars on resume prep, interview prep, & building soft/essential skills
Take part in live panels with Central Texas professionals in skilled trades, manufacturing & logistics
Don’t miss this opportunity to launch your career in the trades, right from your own computer or mobile device!
Pre-register to attend: bit.ly/wsrcavirtualcareerexpo
Employers can sign up for a free interactive booth at: https://ruralcapitalarea.getyourbooth.com/
Seminar schedule Careers in Manufacturing
10:30 – 11:15am
Learn more about careers in manufacturing with our live panel session with professionals working in manufacturing! Live Q&A for all participants.
Careers in Skilled Trades
11:30am – 12:15pm
Hear from apprentices that will share about their educational journey and the meaningful work they do in the skilled trades! Live Q&A – come with questions!
Careers in Logistics
12:30 – 1:15pm
Learn more about careers in logistics with our live panel session with professionals in logistics! Live Q&A for all participants.
Resume & Interview Prep
1:30 – 2:00pm
Applying for jobs can be scary and nerve-wracking, but it doesn’t have to be! Come learn tips to make your resume and interviews stand out.
Soft Skills
2:15 – 2:45pm
Hear from apprentices that will share about their educational journey and the meaningful work they do in the skilled trades! Live Q&A – come with questions!
Upskilling: Climb that Ladder!
3:00 – 3:30pm
Explore training tools available to upskill and expand your capabilities as you search for a new career or enhance current skills to gain access to new opportunities in your employment.
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.
Workforce Solutions Capital Area estimates that the Austin metro area will have more than 60,000 middle-skill openings to fill and believes perception is a key barrier for recruitment of talent. Meanwhile, businesses in the trades cite talent shortage as one of the biggest barriers for growth.
Inspired into action after hearing Workforce Solutions Capital Area’s presentation on this issue, Texas Mutual created a partnership with the non-profit and KVUE, Austin’s ABC broadcast affiliate, to launch Trade Up Texas. The campaign was created to dispel the misperceptions about working in the trades, help recruit a new generation of skilled tradespersons and build a pipeline of well-trained workers who can perform dangerous jobs safely.
Workforce Solutions staff help load cleaning supplies
To assist Austin’s child care providers with maintaining safe and clean centers during the COVID-19 pandemic, Workforce Solutions Capital Area’s Child Care Services team held a cleaning supplies pickup event on August 21 and 22 at the Travis County Purchasing Warehouse. One hundred fifty-three providers from all around the Austin metro area signed up.
Providers received pallet-sized orders of cleaning supplies—everything from dish soap, sanitizing wipes, gloves, paper towels and more—at no cost. Our team sorted and prepared thousands of pounds of supplies ahead of the pickup days—25,277 pounds, to be exact!
One of the participating centers was Eanes Independent School District, which has two centers with almost 85 children in care, according to Jeannie Young, Child Development Center Coordinator.
“When we closed in March, we left on spring break and never went back. Now we are reopening and one of our concerns was do we have enough supplies to truly operate,” Jeannie said.
“This is a really wonderful gift to make sure we start our year strong and we have plenty of supplies to keep us going while we build up our stock,” she said.
Brianna Hodges is the Center Director at Prodigy Child Development Center, with 83 children in care. “When I heard about this event, I was excited! My prayers have been answered. This is tremendous help,” she said.
What will get cleaned first? “Everything—toys, walls, I mean it all. It all will be cleaned; we are excited to do a deep clean and maintain health and safety,” Brianna said.
“We are very thankful. Thank you again for helping us out and helping our children maintain safety in such a hard time,” said Brianna.
Workforce Solutions Capital Area is committed to supporting providers in Austin who care for the children of our region’s workforce. By providing care in a safe and nurturing environment, Austin’s child care providers are helping to develop a future workforce that is skilled and productive. Learn more about how we support child care providers on our website.
Ever since childhood, Abigail Leighton has always enjoyed building things and working with her hands. This interest is what led Abigail, who has called Austin home since 2002, to the skilled trades and a budding career as an electrician.
Before entering the trades, Abigail worked in the food service industry but realized her opportunities were limited. She sought work that would pay well and help build a productive life.
“I needed to find a career path that would earn me a respectable, livable income without taking out massive student loans,” Abigail said. “I searched online for jobs that make lots of money without a college degree. Several trade jobs appeared in my search and I knew that was what I needed to do in order to improve my life and stop living paycheck to paycheck.”
Abigail called Brian Peabody, the training coordinator at Plumbers & Pipefitters Local Union 286, to ask about applying for an apprenticeship. “I explained why I wanted to join a local union and he told me I should take the Multi-Craft Core Curriculum class to help me along,” said Abigail.
Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3) is a nationally recognized, industry certificate that introduces students to the different building trades and teaches them the skills necessary to successfully apply for a registered apprenticeship, debt-free. MC3 is a standardized, comprehensive, 120-hour construction course designed to help young people and transitioning adults choose and succeed in apprenticeship programs in the skilled trades that are appropriate for them.
Abigail enrolled in the two-week program and took her training in July 2020. The students received their OSHA-10 certification, First Aid/CPR training, learned to read blueprints and, best of all, got jobs upon graduation.
“I think my true passion may actually be with the union itself. Trade jobs have given me a lot of confidence and useful skills. Local unions are something very special and I believe they have the ability to continue empowering women like myself.”
“I think the program is really special and gives people a good look into the trades, and what it means to be part of a union. I only wish they had the classes more often so I could start sending people I know to take it. Brian Peabody has really put a lot of time and effort into teaching MC3 and it is such a valuable experience,” Abigail said.
Meeting the people who work in all the local unions was an experience Abigail enjoyed. “It was such a unique experience to observe their jobs and see the passion for what they do. The program is run by good people who care about the success of others and it shows,” she said.
“I had a very skewed idea of what most tradespeople were like. I always assumed people were plumbers, or electricians, or ironworkers because their dads were—that they grew up learning to fix things and that they have always known how to use tools or work with their hands. That couldn’t be further from the truth! I was very tool illiterate when I first started my journey in this industry, and now I use power tools every day and own my own angle grinder,” said Abigail.
“I was sold on being a plumber at first but then we took a tour of the electrician’s training facility and it started changing my mind. I thought the work they did looked very interesting and I kept finding myself considering it more and more at home after class,” she said.
“We did mock job interviews and Marc Pendleton from Local 520 was there. He was such a delight to sit down with and I really enjoyed our interview. The health benefits and retirement options with 520 were some of the best, and they have a picnic committee. What’s not to love?” Abigail said.
While her journey as a union apprentice has just begun, Abigail already knows her future lies in the trades.
“I want other women who felt like me to know that this is attainable and the union is there to help and support you along the way.”
“My short-term goal is to finish the five-year apprenticeship and become a journeyman—or journeywoman, if you will! After that, I may pursue a masters license to start my own business and employ other union members,” said Abigail.
“I think my true passion may actually be with the union itself. Trade jobs have given me a lot of confidence and useful skills. Local unions are something very special and I believe they have the ability to continue empowering women like myself,” she said.
“I have a new long-term goal and that is to show other women that they can do this too. Skilled trades may currently be a male-dominated industry, but it doesn’t have to be. Women make wonderful tradespeople and have so much to offer to this industry. The only thing holding women back from learning a trade is themselves,” said Abigail.
Abigail Leighton and Marc Pendleton
Marc Pendleton, Organizational Development Specialist for Local 520, agreed: “We encourage women to be electricians because they have great attention to detail. I learned the tricks of the trade 14 years ago from a great Journeywoman,” Marc said.
“We can think we aren’t tough enough, or strong enough, or knowledgeable enough—but that just isn’t true. I want other women who felt like me to know that this is attainable and the union is there to help and support you along the way.”
She added, “If you are willing to work hard and learn new things, the union and other tradespeople will teach you everything you need to know. Get ready to sweat and buy some nice gel insoles for your boots! Other than that, a good attitude is all you will need.”
Learning a new skill set to pursue a new career takes time and resources. For parents with young children who want to take this path, having available and affordable child care is essential. Kelly Thomas, who has lived in Austin since 2001, has completed cosmetology training and is now weighing her career options, and she can do so having received support with child care.
In September 2018, Kelly was receiving support from the nonprofit AnyBabyCan. Her parent navigator there told her about child care tuition scholarships offered by Workforce Solutions Capital Area and suggested that Kelly enroll.
“Workforce Solutions have been amazing for providing opportunities to help me and provide resources for finding and keeping child care,” Kelly said.
“Workforce Solutions helped me through the process of applying and renewing for care, and the staff was so kind and always there to help me,” she said. “Anytime I had an issue with something—like reporting attendance—they were there right away to help.”
Kelly Thomas with her daughter
Kelly enrolled in the 1,500-hour cosmetology operator program at Nuvani Beauty School at the end of 2019 and graduated in July 2020. Today Kelly is now preparing for her state board to receive her license to work as a cosmetologist. While her cosmetology plans are on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kelly remains focused on what she will do with her newly earned skills.
“Ideally, I would like to either work under an apprenticeship at a full salon,” she said, “or possibly work at a blow out bar, doing shampoos, styles, braiding and special requests.”
For other parents in Austin seeking assistance, Kelly emphasizes that enrolling in the child care program will provide future benefits for parents and their children: “The program works to help people to not just have a better life, but a better future for themselves and their children,” Kelly said.
“There was no way I could have finished my program without this help. I have had a lot of hardships in my life and this was my big break. Now I can definitely provide a future for my daughter,” said Kelly.
Workforce Solutions Capital Area Child Care Services Enrollment in the childcare program is subject to the availability of funds. Because the need for childcare services is great in our community, we currently maintain a list of families interested in enrolling in the childcare program.
When enrollment into the program is not immediately available, we ask eligible parents to complete a pre-assessment form to be added to the interested list. At any time, parents may call our office to check on the status of enrollment.
