Goal 2 : Career Readiness + Training
We remove barriers and equip workers with the skills they need to succeed
OBJECTIVES
2.1 Skills Alignment: Ensure that training curricula are aligned with regional employers’ needs and a 21st century workplace
2.2 Capacity: Grow capacity of regional training providers for industry priority occupations to meet the demand for entry and mid-level workers
2.3 Access: Increase residents’ access to training and good-paying careers. Partner with education agencies and community-based orgs to create easy entry programs
2.4 Persistence: Increase persistence and completion rates for all students
Give your input: Enter comments below. If you’re comfortable, please also note the organization you represent.
There are not enough workforce readiness training opportunities in our area, such as ESL, digital literacy, GED/HSE, or soft skills training. ESL courses consistently have very long waitlists. These skills are essential to prepare people to enter credential and degree programs and be successful in employment. We need more attention on and investment in these workforce readiness programs. Please highlight these programs in the Hire Local plan.
I appreciate the focus here and I agree that it’s important to strengthen partnerships between general community-based organizations working with adults, nonprofit workforce development organizations, and employers. Our organizations are doing an excellent job supporting people through training, but the ultimate goal is employment. Greater partnerships and trust between nonprofit organizations and employers will ensure more people from under-resourced populations persist through training and get hired.
As the population of Central Texas continues to grow, so does the number of neurodiverse individuals, including autistic young people, entering adulthood—yet they remain chronically underemployed despite their skills and potential. With an estimated 71,429 individuals (children and adults) with autism in Central Texas, expanding inclusive employment opportunities is critical to ensuring they can contribute meaningfully to the workforce, gain independence, and thrive within their communities. At the same time, employers across various industries are facing workforce shortages and an increasing demand for dedicated, detail-oriented employees—qualities that many neurodiverse individuals bring to the workplace. Employment training and trade programs designed for autistic individuals are needed and would play a vital role in bridging this gap by equipping neurodiverse individuals with the practical skills, hands-on experience, and workplace readiness needed to succeed in high-demand fields. These programs help build technical expertise, social adaptability, and confidence, increasing long-term job retention and career growth. By investing in specialized training, apprenticeships, and trade education, we can create more accessible career pathways, empower autistic individuals to reach their full potential, and help businesses tap into a talented, capable, and underutilized workforce. A commitment to inclusive hiring is not just a social good—it’s an economic necessity for building a stronger, more innovative workforce.