Segun datos publicados por la Comisión de la Fuerza Laboral de Texas, la tasa de desempleo en el área de Austin-Round Rock disminuyó en los meses de noviembre de 2022 a diciembre de 2022 y ahora se sitúa en el 2.7%, lo que representa un total de 21,237 residentes sin trabajo.
Representado por 36,833 residentes desempleados, el estudio revela que la tasa de desempleo en el área metropolitana de Austin se mantiene por debajo del nivel estatal. Las tasas de desempleo en Texas se sitúan en un 3.6%, mientras que a nivel nacional se posiciona en un 3.3%.
Workforce Solutions Capital Area and UA Local 286 Plumbers & Pipefitters are holding an open house event this Saturday to promote their local pre-apprenticeship class and encourage residents to pursue a career in a trade.
The Multi-Craft Core Curriculum Pre-Apprenticeship Program (MC3) is a two-week course that guides participants through a range of skills across the trades, first aid and safety, and OSHA certification.
Workforce Solutions Capital Area, the local workforce development board for Austin-Travis County, is excited to announce its 2023 recognition as one of the Best Places for Working Parents in Austin by Early Matters Greater Austin.
Best Places for Working Parents™ is a first-of-its-kind business self-assessment promoting research-backed policies that benefit both working parents and businesses’ bottom line.
Workforce Solutions Capital Area has supported early childhood success for many years and the pandemic has only made the need more acute. For that reason, we are proud to collaborate with Early Matters Greater Austin and invite you to become a part of this growing, national movement of business leaders that are proving family-friendly is business-friendly.
Through a short, confidential online self-assessment, businesses can see if they qualify for a Best Place for Working Parents™ designation and view how their company compares to other companies of similar size and industry. Qualifying businesses who take the assessment will be promoted through local media outlets and receive unique branding opportunities. The online, self-assessment can be found here.
Why is this initiative important?
83% of millennials said they would or likely would leave their current job for another job with better family friendly workplace policies. Your company can be at the forefront of attracting and retaining top talent by earning this designation and showcasing your commitment to family-friendly policies.
National research tells us that there is a serious business case to being family-friendly. More than 15 million U.S. workers have quit their jobs since April 2021, and 45% of those surveyed said needing to take care of family was a key factor in their decision. Offering family-friendly workplaces is a crucial component of getting Texans back to work, fueling our state’s economic engine.
Our city thrives when children thrive because they are our future citizens, workforce, and leaders. Employers of every size and industry can play an important role in ensuring all children reach their full potential. Even though most employers are not directly involved in raising children, their support for family-friendly workplace practices is good for business and good for Austin.
About Early Matters Greater Austin
EMGA is an alliance of current and retired business professionals focused on the critical relationship between access to high-quality early education and our State’s long-term economic success. EMGA is dedicated to bringing the business voice to the table where appropriate to help ensure young children in Central Texas reach their full potential by entering kindergarten prepared to learn and succeed. To learn more or to get involved as a Best Place for Working Parents™, visit https://www.earlymattersgreateraustin.org/.
About Workforce Solutions Capital Area
Workforce Solutions Capital Area Workforce Board is the publicly-funded workforce board for Austin-Travis County. Through strong partnerships and strategic collaborations, we are leading the region’s workforce system in the development of a world-class workforce. To learn more about our services for job seekers, employers, parents, and children, please visit wfscapitalarea.com.
2022 was a monumental year for our local workforce and Workforce Solutions Capital Area! We want to celebrate some of the great work done for our community connecting local people to local jobs. Looking ahead, our goal is to continue making a positive difference in the lives of job seekers and employers. Here’s a recap of some of our top moments from 2022, presented in no particular order.
1. We launched the ‘Hire Local’ plan, offering 1,000 scholarships for training programs
Austin currently has one of the hottest job markets in the country, but our community continues to grapple with equity concerns such as unaffordability. Alongside Austin and Travis County leaders, we publicly launched the “Hire Local” plan in May 2022 and also announced 1,000 new scholarships available for our workforce training programs. The goal of Hire Local is to connect local people with the skills needed to land in-demand, higher paying jobs so they can afford to stay in Austin.
“[Workforce Solutions Capital Area] wants you to know that they have these opportunities for you all. They’re here for you. So I really want people to reach out and just respond to them, see what they have to offer.”
Khalyl Woodson, Workforce Solutions training scholarship recipient
2. We celebrated the first Hire Local Award winner through the Austin Chamber’s Greater Austin Business Awards
We’re honored to have partnered with the Austin Chamber to create a new recognition for local employers helping to strengthen our regional workforce.
As part of the Austin Chamber’s Greater Austin Business Awards, the Hire Local Award recognizes one local company that embraces the responsibility of preparing our future generations for careers in Central Texas. Congratulations to our board member John Newman with Athena Manufacturing for winning the first ever Hire Local Award!
RELATED: Manufacturing is a key industry in Central Texas, with many businesses producing everything from microchips to medical equipment. Hear from a local company building its talented workforce by relying on partners like Workforce Solutions Capital Area and no-cost training resources like the Certified Production Technician program.
3. We partnered with CapMetro on a 1,000+ Project Connect job development
A new collaboration between CapMetro and Workforce Solutions Capital Area will help develop more than 1,000 local jobs as the transit authority revs up its Project Connect mass transit program.
As part of the collaboration, we will work alongside our education and business partners to identify possible candidates from our talent pools and fulfill CapMetro’s workforce needs.
4. We expanded apprenticeship programs in healthcare, manufacturing and techwith more than $500,000 in grants in hand
Apprenticeship programs allow local people to keep a source of income, getting paid while they train on the job for in-demand careers. Learning from the skilled trades apprenticeship program from partners like Local 286 Plumbers and Pipefitters, we have been able to envision apprenticeship in other in-demand industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, and tech.
RELATED:We won first place for the 2022 Registered Apprenticeship Expansion Award at the Texas Workforce Commission Conference. It’s an honor to receive this recognition for building effective training pathways in growing industries.
5. We partnered with Central Texas Food Bank to feed and find jobs for those in need
We partnered with Central Texas Food Bank for an event called “Fed Today, Work Tomorrow” to help those in need get food and job placement assistance ahead of the holidays. We offered free meals for the first 100 people, and SNAP enrollment coordinators were on site to help people get signed up.
“Collaboration is at the core of our mission. And so, it can be difficult for folks to try and navigate a system and receive assistance or get information. Any time we can come together to provide a one-stop shop of information and resources in one place and provide a meal, it’s a win for us.”
Sari Vatske, president and CEO of the Central Texas Food Bank
6. We are improving child care services and resources for low-income families
Low-income families may find it difficult to work or pursue an education and pay for child care without financial assistance. That is why we offer child care scholarships and corresponding providers to meet the needs of their families.
Currently, we work with more than 300 child care providers that are caring for more than 3,000 children.
Dr. Desmar Walkes, Commissioner Aaron Demerson, and Council Member José “Chito” Vela
7. At the Child Care Symposium, providers received opportunities to learn and connect
Providing eligible parents with financial assistance for quality child care is essential for these parents to work or train to better provide for their families. It also helps to develop the future skilled workforce of Central Texas. To help accomplish this, we host the annual Child Care Symposium for child care directors, owners and workers in Central Texas.
8. We connected industry to the classroom with the Teacher Externship Program
Last summer, we partnered with local school districts and employers from various industries for the third annual Teacher Externship Program. Our 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.
“The employer component was outstanding. I learned the value in sharing all the opportunities that our scholars have beyond just believing they need to go to a college/university to have the job of their dreams or their choice.”
RELATED: In partnership with Austin Independent School District, as well as Austin Energy and the City of Austin, we held a ceremony inspired by athletic signing events to spotlight students pursuing careers and technical education upon graduation.
9. To meet job seekers where they are, we’re now co-located with key local partners
Dedicated Workforce Solutions Capital Area career counselors now have a permanent home at Austin Community College District’s Northridge Campus. The move is part of a new co-location formed in order to connect students more seamlessly to city and county funding for workforce training.
Workforce Solutions has also strategically co-located with other training providers and community organizations, including Austin Public Library, Texas Building Trades Council, and more.
10. We were awarded a $100,000 grant from Texas Mutual grant for workforce development
Grant funds from Texas Mutual Insurance Company expanded students’ skills training opportunities with Elgin Independent School District. Workforce Solutions is one of 44 recipients of Texas Mutual’s annual workforce development and training safety grant.
For this grant, Workforce Solutions and Elgin ISD expanded the district’s Auto Tech Pathway program by purchasing industry standard professional equipment and providing associated OSHA Basic 10 training and interactive and experiential safety training.
RELATED: We received $45,000 from JFF and New Profit to design and launch a pilot initiative in October to implement the IBM SkillsBuild learning platform. This pilot will be part of the Workforce Development Board Digital Skills Pilot Initiative, led by JFF and New Profit, and funded by Google.org and IBM.
Over the next several years, Austin Community College will invest in new buildings and programs for computer science, advanced manufacturing, nursing, health science, business and student services, including at campuses in South Austin, due to the $770 million bond voters approved Nov. 8.
The bond will create space for high-demand programs through physical expansions to all ACC campuses, ACC board Chair Nan McRaven said.
As cases of respiratory illnesses spread across the Austin metro, the importance of providing quality child care in a safe environment becomes all the more important. To support our providers, Workforce Solutions Capital Area and Austin Public Health hosted curbside pickup events for providers to receive cleaning supplies and at-home testing kits for COVID19 at no cost on December 9 and 10 at the Rosewood-Zaragosa Neighborhood Center.
Over the two days, we distributed 20 pallets’ worth of supplies to 134 providers. These included 1,600 cans of spray disinfectant, 620 buckets of disinfectant wipes, 760 bottles of hand soap, and 620 cases of gloves. Austin Public Health provided hand sanitizer, masks for adults and children, gloves, and at-home testing kits for COVID19. These providers care for 7,431 children across Travis County.
One of the providers was Shannon Saldana at Austin Community College Children’s Lab School. This full-day, year-round early childhood program has 12 full-time and 15 part-time staff and cares for 44 children.
“I was excited because we are running low and it’s hard to find masks and gloves sometimes,” Shannon said. “The cost of things has gone up, so finding the little things and not having a high cost or a long wait time is helpful.”
For Sharon Knight, director of Tarrytown Children’s Center, the rising costs of necessary supplies has been an ongoing challenge for her 14 staff to care for the 56 children at their center.
“I am so happy that someone is thinking about child care and the larger picture, instead of us trying to scrape together, ask parents for more, and try to dig into our funds,” Sharon said.
“This has really saved us during this three-year period, and I honestly don’t know what we would do without it because finding supplies has been almost impossible. I am very appreciative of what Workforce Solutions does,” said Sharon.
Tarrytown Children’s Center is a 4-star rated provider in the Texas Rising Star program, the highest rating available. The Texas Rising Star program is for child care providers who meet quality requirements that exceed the state’s minimum licensing standards and that are designed to enhance the intellectual, physical, and social development of children in care. In return for their commitment to quality, providers receive numerous benefits including enhanced reimbursement rates, learning materials and equipment, child development college course scholarships, and more.
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.
The mission of Workforce Solutions Capital Area is to connect local people to local jobs. We are excited to welcome our newest member of our Board of Directors to help us bridge our region’s skills gap: Michelle Teakell. Michelle currently serves as Senior Technical Program Manager, Data Center Engineering at Amazon Web Services (AWS).
Get to know Michelle in our Q&A below, and connect with her on LinkedIn and to see her extensive experience in the tech and advanced manufacturing sectors.
Q: Where is your hometown?
A: Born in Abilene, raised in San Antonio.
Q: How did you first become involved with Workforce Solutions Capital Area (WFS)?
A: A friend and colleague, Melanie Flowers [WFS’ board chair], was telling me about all the good work being done and I kept asking questions about how I could help. The tech space in Austin is growing so fast, and there’s a skills gap to be filled.
Q: How is WFS a go-to resource for employers in Austin?
A: Workforce Solutions is a good place to match industry skill demands with skill set development in the community.
Q: What is the value of connecting local people to local jobs?
A: Locals have a longer retention rate.
Q: How does upskilling benefit your industry?
A: Overall, the tech labor market in Austin is increasing. The benefit of upskilling is filling that need with pre-existing talent who want to grow their skills.
Q: How does your organization support growing Austin’s workforce from local programs and schools?
A:AWS Academy courses are offered at Austin Community College and The University of Texas at Austin.
Q: How has skills training helped you develop your career?
A: I’m a forever-student. I love developing my own personal skill set.
BONUS QUESTIONS
Q: What does your ideal day in the Austin area look like?
A: I’m a morning person, so my ideal day starts early with a casual jog with my kids on their bikes or scooters. Then in the afternoon, I would love to catch a live University of Texas (football or basketball depending on the season) game. Then grab an early dinner at Chuy’s to beat the crowds!
Q: Is a hot dog a sandwich?
A: No way. Ketchup doesn’t belong in a sandwich.
Q: If you could give a piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
A: Don’t sweat the small stuff. Really, it’s not worth it.
As concerns about a 2023 recession loom, Austin’s job market still appears to be robust. At least for now.
The region’s unemployment rate stood at 2.8% in October, the most recent figure available and a level that economists generally consider so low that it means most people who want a job have one.
Cultivating curious kids and imaginative minds can be challenging when you’re also trying to stop sickness.
Dawn Leach, manager of the Austin Community College Children’s Lab, said distributions hosted by APH and Workforce Solutions Capital Area have been a huge help.
