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Samsung Austin Semiconductor and the Taylor Independent School District have partnered once again.
Two Taylor High School teachers visited the semiconductor factory in Austin for three days last week, July 11-13, as part of the Workforce Solutions Capital Area’s Educator Externship Program.
Workforce Solutions Capital Area and Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area are partnering with major hospital groups and local clinics to provide on the job training and support classroom learning for Austin teens graduating high school.
Anyone over the age of 18 is eligible to apply for a health care apprenticeship; however, applicants must have a high school diploma or general education development certificate in order to sit for the certification exam at the end of the apprenticeship training.
Local organizations are hoping to give everyone permission to dream.
Workforce Solutions Capital Area, along with North America’s Building Trade Unions has partnered with the man whose story inspired the “Pursuit of Happyness” movie, in the hopes of driving middle and high school students to plan for their careers.
“What we want you to know is that there are opportunities for you, and there are people that are fighting and wanting to make sure that you know that those opportunities are there for you,” said the president of the Texas State Teachers Association Ovidia Molina.
Growing a world-class competitive workforce is our business, and we listen and work closely with employers to help build a workforce that meets the needs of today. As one approach to our work, our team of Career & Education Outreach Specialists continue offering guidance to our region’s future skilled workforce, connecting schools and employers to support students in developing in-demand academic and technical skills for today’s workforce.
The importance of building a higher skilled workforce to fill in-demand roles such as those in tech, infrastructure/mobility, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and skilled trades/construction is even more apparent in today’s talent shortage. The demand for skilled workers is made more urgent by demographic shifts in the labor markets and increasing retirements.
Each summer, Workforce Solutions Capital Area partners with local school districts and employers from various industries for the Teacher Externship Program. Through this program, we’re able to:
In addition to the connections and data-informed curriculum created through the externship program to, the program also provides additional benefits to the schools and participating teachers. In 2022, we also partnered with Nepris to purchase licenses for career exploration software for teachers who do not have access to it through their ISDs. We also leveraged Texas Workforce Commission funding to provide $500 stipends to each educator who participated.
We have strengthened relationships with local school districts to connect with the next generation of skilled talent. Ninety-nine teachers and counselors connected with three-day externships. Districts represented include Austin, Cypress, Del Valle, Eanes, Elgin, Manor, and Pflugerville. Schools represented include Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired and the Goodwill’s Excel Center. 28 employers hosted teachers. Employers include those represented on WFS’ board, such as Ascension Seton, Athena Manufacturing, and more. We look forward to continue this effort, raising awareness to our emerging workforce of quality career pathways.
This week, 36 middle school girls have their hard hats and safety goggles on along with their power tools in tow ready to tackle new tasks.
It’s all part of the free Camp NAWIC, or the National Association of Women in Construction, which provides hands-on learning. Those behind the camp said they want to see more women make their mark in the male-dominated industry.
There are 104,159 people who work in construction in the Austin area, and women only make up about 10% of that, according to Workforce Solutions Capital Area. That’s similar to the ratio nationwide.
As Austin continues growing, the metro will require more skilled workers to build and maintain everything going up across the region. With the goal in mind of introducing the next generation of skilled talent to opportunities in the trades, we hosted the annual Metroplex Career Rally at Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 286 on March 22 and 23 for local students.
Members of six local Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) provided hands-on demos and workshops for 80 middle school and 200 high school students over the two-day event. With thousands of local job openings for occupations like plumbers, electricians, carpenters and more, the importance of growing the next generation of craftspeople becomes more apparent.
“Apprenticeship is very important to our industry. There is no better training model—the hands-on method works great. We take someone who is interested in getting their foot in the door and we get them working and they earn while they learn,” said Joe Cooper, Training Director at Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 286 and a member of the Capital Area Board of Directors.
“The apprenticeship model helps us to renew our ranks and ensure we have the next generation of skilled craftspeople. Apprenticeship lets our contractor partners, our journeymen, and our apprentices give back and have some shape and control over the industry we work in,” Joe said.
Participating students came from campuses in Austin, Del Valle, Manor, and Pflugerville independent school districts. Students with the YouthBuild Austin program at American YouthWorks also joined.
Students learned about eligibility requirements, benefits, and what a typical work day looks like as apprentices in electrical, plumbing, ironworking, carpentry, and sheet metal.
Emanuel Calwac, a senior at Del Valle High School, said, “My favorite thing about the event is all the people who came out to support us and teach us about things we don’t know, like the trades and careers we can choose and all the things we can think about for our future lives.”
Hunter McIntee, a student at American YouthWorks, said, “I’m really interested in these programs, mainly the carpenters program. I want to see where I can get my foot in the door with that and make huge steps toward my future goals and career.”
Additionally, career and education outreach specialists with WFS Capital Area hosted a workshop on career exploration utilizing tools created by the board and the Texas Workforce Commission to help students plan and budget for their adult lives.
The event concluded with Julian Alvarez, Commissioner Representing Labor for the Texas Workforce Commission, speaking about the opportunities the students had explored: “What I see here in this room are future employers. With your initiative and the skills you will gain in the trades, you will own your own business one day.”
For Hakim Budillo, a senior at Del Valle High School, his plans are set: “My plans for the next couple years are to be a welder here at Local 286.”
For Career and Technical Education (CTE) month, Workforce Solutions Capital Area (WFS) partnered with Pflugerville ISD and Pflugerville Chamber of Commerce on Thursday for the 10th annual Pflugerville R.E.A.L World event.
The big picture: Juniors and seniors from all PfISD high schools were bussed to the event to meet and to network with representatives from industries that are in high demand, such as IT, construction, and robotics, to learn more about local companies, post-secondary opportunities, and apprenticeship programs.
How WFS helped: Amber Warne, our director of upskilling and advancement, served on a panel to discuss apprenticeship opportunities, and our career education and outreach specialists led workshops on resume writing, interview prep, and more.
On November 9, Workforce Solutions Capital Area joined many of our partners to host Youth Career Day: Networking & Job Fair at Austin Central Library. About 100 youth from around Central Texas networked with professionals and recruiters in high-demand industries, learned about high-wage and high-growth careers in Austin and how to network and prepare for mock interviews with employers.
Guest speakers offering career and education advice were Chante Braswell with HID Global, Michael Ward Jr. with Austin Urban Technology Movement, Shechem Sauls with CommUnity Care, and Farhan Manjiyani with Rev.com.
Youth Career Day also featured a panel with representatives of local employers sharing tips for how to succeed in a first job (moderated by a student from American YouthWorks!). On the panel were Carmen Cardenas with CommUnity Care, Shawn Nelson with Continental Auto Group, and Brian Peabody with Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 286, and Alex Popwell with Rev.com.
The day also featured presentations on interviewing by Dr. Katie Bradford of the Moody College of Communication at UT Austin and on soft skills by Megan Richardson at Goodwill Central Texas.
Isaac Torres with the Make It Movement spoke about how youth can create their purpose statement to determine what they are meant to do in life rather than just what they are told to do.
Following the panels and presentations was a networking and job fair with more than 30 employers and training partners participated, including American YouthWorks, Goodwill Central Texas, Lifeworks, Make It Movement, and Skillpoint Alliance.
For Berenice Lopez, the best part of the event was the fact Youth Career Day was her first ever job fair.
Renee Williamson, another student, said, “My favorite part of the day was everything!”
“This day is so important because we need to inspire a whole new generation that there is a way to make good money, earn a skill and build a career in a short time after they leave high school,” Isaac said. “If they have the will, we will show them how to make it.”
SaulPaul, a rapper from Houston and member of the Make It Movement, emceed Youth Career Day.
“This year, not only did I get to emcee as in host, but also emcee as in make some music. We had some amazing guests come up on stage—it was interactive, it was engaging,” SaulPaul said.
Youth Career Day concluded with raffle prizes for youth who completed a passport with questions to ask the vendors to gain experience networking and job searching.
Our thanks to our Youth Career Day sponsors for their generous contributions:
Did you know Workforce Solutions Capital Area supports opportunity youth in Austin? Opportunity youth are people who are 16 to 24 years old and not sufficiently engaged in education and employment. This is typically due to systemic barriers that we have identified and continue addressing collectively. There are approximately 24,000 opportunity youth in the greater Austin area, according to American Communities survey data.
This summer, Workforce Solutions Capital Area (WFS) partnered with local school districts and employers from various industries for the 2nd annual Teacher Externship Program.
Why it matters: WFS’ Teacher Externship Program strengthens relationships with local school districts to connect with the next generation of skilled talent.
How it started: In 2019, WFS served 50 Austin ISD educators in an in-person capacity.
2021 Teacher Externship Program, by the numbers:
How it works:
What they’re saying:
What’s next: WFS is already recruiting for the summer of 2022! Employers can sign up and learn more here.
Thank you to our 2021 Teacher Externship employer partners:
Offering pre-apprentice dual credit courses can benefit schools and employers alike. For schools introducing career and technical education (CTE) programs, they can gain industry input and guidance from career professionals. For participating employers, they have the opportunity to help guide the next generation of skilled workers.
Electrical contractor TRIO Electric offers a pre-apprentice dual credit course at no cost for students who want to become the future electricians of Austin. The program is entering its third year at Navarro Early College High School and its first year at Travis Early College High School in Austin Independent School District (AISD). The course is part of a partnership between electrical contractor TRIO Electric, Austin Independent School District and Austin Community College.
Participating in the program for its second year is Premier North High School in combination with Premier Pflugerville High School. The Premier schools are ResponsiveEd public charter schools offering credit recovery programs.
TRIO hosted three virtual commitment ceremonies in January for newly participating students: 31 at Travis ECHS; 33 at Navarro ECHS; and 11 students from Premier.
Christina Steele-Hantgin, principal at Travis ECHS, said “You guys are pioneers, and you are building a legacy that will last long after you graduate high school.”
The program teaches students how to be safe, productive and skilled electricians as well as other employable and soft skills. The students attend the TRIO Pre-Apprenticeship Program virtually and safely in-person at their schools, where TRIO has built labs for the students.
Shelia Henry, Executive Director of High Schools at AISD, said, “You have made an investment into your own future. You are making grown men and women decisions about what you will do next in your lives. I wish you success!”
The dual credit courses, through Austin Community College (ACC), include Basic Electrical Theory, Introduction to Electrical Safety and Tools, Calculations, Construction Engineering Technology and Commercial Wiring. The ACC coursework will lead students to a Level 1 College Certificate, which crosswalks with the Texas Education Agency’s Electrical 1 and 2 requirements.
“Our partnerships go beyond just helping our students—we want to help you build a pathway,” Natalia Almanza, Manager of High School Careers Program at ACC, said.
“This program will lead you into a career where you can work your way into becoming a leader at TRIO and at the same time you can choose to work to earn money for college.” Beau Pollock, President and CEO of TRIO Electric
The program will offer learning outside of the classroom as well. Students will visit jobsites to observe electricians completing work, and can accept TRIO’s offer of paid full-time internships in the summer.
Beau Pollock, President and CEO of TRIO Electric, said, “You were told when you enrolled that if you worked hard, TRIO will extend a job offer to you upon graduating high school. This program will lead you into a career where you can work your way into becoming a leader at TRIO and at the same time you can choose to work to earn money for college.”
Elaine Diaz is the Education Instructor for TRIO and has 20 years of experience working in the skilled trades.
“I became a teacher when I started at TRIO Electric. I felt really comfortable with it, being that throughout my career I have worked with many first-year apprentices,” Elaine said.
“You are students in a unique position—the entire country needs trained electricians, and you will be trained to become great electricians. I wish you courage, strength and wisdom in your future as electricians,” said Elaine.
Julian Alvarez, the Commissioner Representing Labor for the Texas Workforce Commission, said, “You will be attending school but also receiving on-the-job experience through paid internships and finally paid employment. The commit you are making today will provide you with the knowledge and expertise that will carry you for a lifetime. Congratulations to the next future workforce of this great state of ours!”