Category: Briefings & Performance Updates

Expanding Entry-Level Career Pathways

Aligning capital project workforce needs with Austin’s talent pipeline 

This quarter, the Austin Infrastructure Academy  continued its focus on building sustainable, demand-aligned career pathways that connect Austinites to opportunities created through major capital projects across Austin. By convening employers, education partners, workforce organizations, and community partners, the Academy is helping align future workforce needs with the training, outreach, and support systems needed to prepare local talent for entry-level careers in transportation, construction, and other skilled trades. 

Through intentional collaboration across the workforce ecosystem, the Academy is working to ensure Austin residents—including high school graduates, career changers, and other local job seekers—have access to clear pathways, the right resources, and the skills needed to launch successful careers, while employers have a stronger pipeline of prepared talent to support future projects. 

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What is the Austin Infrastructure Academy?

The Austin Infrastructure Academy is a local coalition of partners in government, education, business, and the community working together to grow Austin’s workforce in transportation, construction, and other skilled trades. 

We connect local people to training and careers that power Austin’s growth—removing barriers so they can make a living, making Austin. 

What we do: 

• Help employers find the workers they need​ 
• Support people in building long-term careers​ 
• Remove barriers including training costs, childcare, transportation, and gear​ 

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Quarterly Impact by the Numbers

Workforce Solutions Capital Area outcomes only

	Year 2, Quarter 1 April 2026 – June 2026	Total March 2025 – June 2026
Residents Connected to Career Opportunities	295	1,856
Participants Enrolled in the Austin Infrastructure Academy1	572	1,654
Training Scholarships Awarded	43	210
Residents Employed or Advancing Their Careers2	36	142

¹ Enrolled participants have been accepted into the Austin Infrastructure Academy and receive individualized career navigation, with access to training, supportive services, and job placement assistance based on their needs.
² Unemployment Insurance (UI) data typically reflects a two-quarter reporting delay​ 

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Quarterly Highlights

1. Austin Infrastructure Academy Earns Statewide Economic Development Recognition

The Austin Infrastructure Academy has been named the recipient of the 2026 Workforce Excellence Award from the Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC). Since 2001, the award has recognized Texas communities that have implemented exceptional workforce initiatives, evaluating recipients on innovation, transferability, community commitment and leverage, measurable objectives, and secondary benefits. 

The recognition reflects the Academy’s success as a regional partnership that strengthens both the workforce and the economy by preparing local residents for careers supporting Central Texas’ historic infrastructure investments. 

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Stories of Progress

Austin Infrastructure Academy convening Austin Transit Partnership, Stacy Witbeck, AECOM, Kiewit, and Sundt to prep for building the local talent pipeline to support the Austin Light Rail project.

1. Aligning Workforce Needs with Capital Projects

The Austin Infrastructure Academy has launched workforce alignment meetings with major Capital Project partners, including Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Austin Light Rail, the Austin Convention Center (and more to come!), to better understand future workforce demand and identify entry-level career opportunities connected to these investments. 

These conversations help forecast hiring needs, align training and talent pipelines, and ensure capital investments create meaningful pathways into mobility and infrastructure careers for Austin residents. 

Help us build your future workforce. Connect with our team to share your hiring forecasts so we can recruit, train, and prepare local talent before your projects begin. 

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2. Equipping K–12 Partners to Inspire Future Careers

Strong career pathways begin long before students enter the workforce. This quarter, the Austin Infrastructure Academy expanded its support for educators and community partners by launching the K-12 Partner Toolkit. 

The toolkit provides teachers, CTE directors, counselors, and community partners with ready-to-use resources—including access to Hype Kits, classroom presentations, career events, employer engagement opportunities, and career exploration materials—to help students discover careers in transportation, construction, and other skilled trades. 

By equipping partners with these tools, we’re expanding access to career awareness and strengthening the pipeline of future mobility and infrastructure talent. 

Student using our VR headset and monitor. Snapshot of simulations aligned with in-demand Mobility & Infrastructure careers: Automotive Services Technician, Electrician, Carpenter, Construction Laborer, HVAC Technician, Plumber, Pipefitter, and Steamfitter, and more!

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Looking Ahead

1. Preparing for the future Academy front door

Austin Community College & Workforce Solutions Capital Area Service Alignment

The Austin Infrastructure Academy is convening Austin Community College and Workforce Solutions Capital Area Career Services staff to align services and create a seamless experience for students and career seekers. Together, partners are mapping programs, support services, referral processes, and organizational strengths to design a coordinated “front door” that makes it easier for individuals to access career coaching, training, supportive services, and employment opportunities. 

This foundational work will help ensure future Academy participants experience a streamlined pathway from career exploration to training and employment while maximizing the strengths of each partner organization.  

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2. Helping Employers Meet Austin’s Water Reuse Requirements

Austin’s 2024 onsite water reuse ordinance creates new operational requirements for large commercial and multifamily developments. To help employers prepare, Austin Water is leading the development of workforce training in partnership with Austin Community College, while the Austin Infrastructure Academy has provided framework to convene partners, impacted stakeholders, and employers to support implementation efforts.

Through this collaboration, employers can learn about the new requirements, available training opportunities, and potential funding resources to upskill existing workers, including facility managers, plumbers, and other building and water systems professionals. The initiative aims to help businesses successfully implement onsite water reuse systems while strengthening Austin’s water workforce. Training is anticipated to launch in fall 2026.

Building Austin’s Skilled Workforce Together

Since launching in March 2025, the Austin Infrastructure Academy has brought together employers, educators, community organizations, and workforce partners to strengthen Austin’s skilled trades talent pipeline. 

Together, we’re helping local job seekers access training and career opportunities while supporting the workforce needs of Austin’s growing infrastructure and mobility industries.  

We are committed to mindful growth, continuously aligning with employer partner needs to ensure that training leads directly to meaningful jobs. Strong employer partnerships are critical to this work—grounded in shared workforce forecasts, training informed by employer needs, clear entry-level career pathways, and a commitment to hire locally. 

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What is the Austin Infrastructure Academy?

The Austin Infrastructure Academy is a local coalition of partners in government, education, business, and the community working together to grow Austin’s workforce in transportation, construction, and other skilled trades. 

We connect local people to training and careers that power Austin’s growth—removing barriers so they can make a living, making Austin. 

What we do: 

• Help employers find the workers they need​ 
• Support people in building long-term careers​ 
• Remove barriers including training costs, childcare, transportation, and gear​ 

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Year One by the Numbers

March 2025 – March 2026; Workforce Solutions Capital Area outcomes only

¹ Enrolled participants have been accepted into the Austin Infrastructure Academy and receive individualized career navigation, with access to training, supportive services, and job placement assistance based on their needs.
² Unemployment Insurance (UI) data typically reflects a two-quarter reporting delay​ 
³ Median Current Salary: $41,600

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Year One Highlights

1. Preparing Talent for High-Demand Careers

Training programs supported through the Austin Infrastructure Academy are aligned with current employer demand across Austin’s mobility and infrastructure industries. Below is a snapshot of the entry-level training pipeline developed to meet those needs.

March 2025 – March 2026; Workforce Solutions Capital Area outcomes only

Target Occupation	Graduates Trained
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers	41
Electricians	40
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers	21
Carpenters / General Construction	6
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters	2

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2. Strengthening Communication on the Job Site

Through a partnership with Texas Mutual, Freestyle Languages, Austin Safety Council, and Austin Chapter of the Associated General Contractors, we launched a grant-funded Spanish and English language course designed to improve communication across job sites. 

A total of 61 participants took part in the program, helping strengthen workplace safety, teamwork, and career growth opportunities. 

Why this matters: 

• Safety‑critical work depends on clear, trusted communication across crews 
• Language gaps surface as job site risk, not just training gaps 
• Workforce readiness includes the ability to raise concerns before incidents occur 

Results include: 

• Spanish-language learners achieved a 74% attendance rate, up from 40% in a previous session.  
• 80% of Spanish-language participants advanced in the program 
• English-language learners reported improved confidence communicating on job sites 

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3. Employers Supporting the Local Talent Pipeline

The following employers represent a snapshot of the 140+ partners collaborating with the Austin Infrastructure Academy to strengthen the local talent pipeline across construction, mobility, utilities, transportation, and skilled trades. 

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Stories of Progress

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2. Building the Future Workforce

Building a strong workforce starts early by helping students explore real-world career opportunities through hands-on learning and industry exposure.  

Through intentional partnerships with schools, educators, and industry leaders,  we’re helping students better understand careers in transportation, construction, and other skilled trades while connecting classrooms to future opportunities..  

Recent K–12 engagement efforts included: 

• Metroplex Career Rally: 98 students from Austin ISD, Del Valle ISD, Pflugerville ISD, and American Youthworks visited Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 286’s union hall on March 12 to explore skilled trades careers firsthand. 
• Austin Contractors & Engineers Association Construction Expo: 151 students participated in hands-on activities and explored career opportunities in the construction industry on March 27. 
• Construction Industry Education Foundation (CIEF) Design Build Competition: 100 high school students across seven teams designed and built structures under the guidance of industry professionals during the April 8–9 competition. 

Photo: CIEF Design Build Competition at ACC Riverside

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3. Expanding Opportunities for Women in Skilled Trades

Women remain underrepresented in infrastructure and skilled trades careers. To better understand barriers, motivations, and opportunities for growth, the Austin Infrastructure Academy gathered insights from more than 400 women across Central Texas. 

What we heard: 

• Women are drawn to work with visible community impact and strong safety culture 
• Clear information about career pathways and entry points matter. 
• Childcare and schedule predictability remain major barriers. 
• Workplace culture, belonging, and representation influence interest and retention. 

Download the Women in Mobility & Infrastructure Toolkit, for practical messaging, outreach tools, and recruitment strategies to help partners connect more women to careers in mobility and infrastructure.

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Looking Ahead

Austin Community College’s planned expansion in Southeast Travis County represents a major investment in the future of skilled trades education and workforce development. The facility will be the front door for the Infrastructure Academy in partnership with the City of Austin, Workforce Solutions Capital Area, and many other community partners, serving as a hub for hands-on training in construction, manufacturing, automotive technology, HVAC, welding, and related careers.