Morris and Robison engaged in a conversation about the skill and talent needs of the first group of employer partners, including Staci Atchison, vice president of human resources for Silver Eagle Distributors; Dave Edwards, director of human resource for Mustang CAT; HCA Houston Healthcare's Oscar Gracia, Gulf Coast division director of talent acquisition, and Mindy Hart, division manager of talent acquisition; and Regina Mellinger, CEO of staffing firm Primary Services.

The forum was the second in a two-part series recognizing the contributions of Houston's workforce to the region's strength, prosperity, and well-being. The first part explored 'personas' representative of the region's jobseekers – the curious, inexperienced “fresh face”; the “mayday mom” who is busy and motivated but feels unchallenged and unappreciated at work; the “Houston strong” worker who has weathered trauma but is resourceful and resilient; and the “wise and worried” displaced worker without a sense of job security despite having advanced degrees. Identifying and understanding personas can provide valuable insights for employers seeking new talent and for nonprofit organizations that support, equip, and empower Houstonians as they strive for better career opportunities.

The Houston region added 4,800 Nonfarm jobs during the month of August, with gains seen in the professional and business services, education and health services, and construction, sectors, according to the monthly Houston Area Employment Situation report from Workforce Solutions. The trade, transportation and utilities, financial activities, and mining and logging sectors experienced growth, too. The region's unemployment rate fell to 6.1 percent, down from July's rate of 6.7 percent.

The August report also adjusts the agency's July report, revising it to show a net gain of 200 jobs, for an increase of 5,000 jobs over both months combined. These gains push Houston's overall job recovery rates beyond 60 percent. August's growth keeps the region's recovery momentum intact, with full employment recovery by December 2022 increasingly likely, according to Gulf Coast Workforce Board Principal Economist Parker Harvey.

UpSkill Houston will welcome Harvey as a guest of its UpSkill Works Forum series on Oct. 25. Harvey will discuss the data he has dissected throughout the region's economic downturn and rebound, and what recovery means to greater Houston.

Through its Second Century Vision, United Way of Greater Houston champions and supports the region's most vulnerable families and individuals — the working poor (asset limited, income constrained, employed (or, A.L.I.C.E.) individuals) and those who fall below the poverty level. These populations make up roughly 47 percent of the region's population.

The Second Century Vision brings together organizations and partners to create pathways to financial stability, support early childhood and youth development, provide affordable healthcare services, and safety net services that take care of basic and immediate needs. This work is critical to helping the region's ALICE population and those living in poverty who desire a sustainable quality of life and pathway to self-sufficiency. It is integral to our work to create better pathways to opportunity and prosperity.

United Way's THRIVE network partners provide key programs that teach financial literacy and skills training that set up Houstonians to succeed in good careers. Partners help Houstonians overcome transportation challenges that could keep them from obtaining, or keeping, a job. And, they offer food, rent, and housing assistance, without which Houstonians could be without the basic necessities of food and shelter. UpSkill Houston is proud to support United Way's Second Century Vision and the strong partners making it a success.

Houston is one of the most important globally advanced manufacturing and robotics ecosystems in the world. The region is home to more than 6,570 manufacturers and produces over $84 billion in goods annually. The manufacturing industry employs more than 234,000 area residents.

UpSkill Houston will be joining the National Association of Manufacturers and Manufacturing Institute in celebrating Manufacturing Day (Oct. 1) and highlighting the wealth of good manufacturing opportunities during the month of October. Look for us to highlight via LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter the importance of manufacturing and its workforce to Houston's economy and how industry leaders are helping build the next generation of creative, highly-skilled manufacturing talent.