Workforce Update - March 2021 |
|
To see all the latest news posted on the TAWB website, click here.
Read the latest from National Skills Coalition's Director of Government Affairs, Katie Spiker, about what we need to see from Congress and the White House to put America's workers back into the jobs that will fuel the recovery.
Seasonally adjusted rate rises 0.1 percentage points.
At summer camps throughout the state, students will get hands-on experiences that allow them to learn problem solving and analytical skills while fostering an interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) related careers with a focus on computer science.
Some industries have struggled to survive, particularly those hit hardest by lockdowns and bans, but the worst seems to be behind us.
With its 68-29 vote, the Senate made Walsh the first former union leader to run the Labor Department in more than 40 years, putting him in charge of the agency amid historic levels of unemployment and an uneven recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sens. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Rob Portman (R-OH), and Reps. Andy Levin (D-MI) and Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH) have introduced the Jumpstart Our Businesses by Supporting Students Act of 2021, or the JOBS Act, to expand federal Pell Grant eligibility to high-quality, short-term job training programs.
Jobs in restaurants, hotels, retail and construction will be hit hardest, the BLS projects, while demand will soar for tech and science workers.
These summer initiatives provide career guidance, hands-on learning and work opportunities to students with disabilities aged 14-22.
Texas lawmakers expected to be sweating over a very tight budget right now, after strong early signs that the pandemic would stall the economy. But an improved economy and a huge infusion of federal aid is erasing those fears.
Investing these federal dollars to expand access to quality, affordable child care will positively impact our workforce, businesses and Texas families for years to come.
School districts must keep or increase the rate of students learning in person in order to avoid losing funds, Gov. Greg Abbott and education officials announced Thursday.
The West Central Texas Workforce Development Board will serve as the grant recipient and provide full-time support for the BCMA for this initiative to to address workforce and education challenges.
|
|
Child Care
HB 619 – Rep. Senfronia Thompson
Relating to developing a strategic plan to support the child-care workforce. Would require TWC to develop a strategic plan that would include recommendations for local workforce development boards to improve, sustain, and support the child-care workforce; and best practices from local workforce development boards in this state and other programs designed to support child-care workers.
Relating to referring children to local workforce development boards for subsidized child care services. Would allow a local workforce development board to allow a child care provider with whom the board contracts to identify and refer to the board children who could be eligible for subsidized child care services
Relating to establishing reimbursement rates for certain child-care providers participating in the subsidized child-care program administered by the Texas Workforce Commission. Would require each board to equalize the amount that child-care providers providing care to children in the same commission age group receive based on the maximum number of children the provider may enroll under the child-to-caregiver ratios and group sizes adopted by the Health and Human Services
Commission.
HB 1792 – Rep. Button(TWC Legislation)
Relating to the evaluation of child-care providers participating in the Texas Rising Star Program. Would require TWC to select a single entity to oversee a statewide roster of qualified assessors to evaluate child-care providers participating in the Texas Rising Star Program during the initial certification process and when a provider applies for a higher level of certification.
Relating to the powers and duties of the Texas Workforce Commission and local workforce development boards regarding the provision of child care and the subsidized child care program. Would require each local workforce development board to inform the local school districts and open-enrollment charter schools in the workforce development area regarding opportunities to partner with child-care providers in the board ’s area to expand access to and provide facilities for prekindergarten programs.
Relating to the establishment of the industry-based certification advisory council and the transfer of certain duties to that advisory council. Transfers the development of recognized industry certifications from to a newly created Industry Based Certification Advisory council, comprised of 9 members (3 representing industry, 3 representing public CTE teachers or administrators, 3 representing a 2-year higher education institution) appointed by the Governor, Lt Governor, and Speaker.
Relating to indicators of achievement under the public school accountability system. Moves evaluation of the high school IBC list from TEA to the SBOE.
Status: Referred to Public Education
Economic Development
Relating to the Texas Economic Development Act. Would extend to 2032 Chapter 313 of the Texas Economic Development Act, which creates a state tax incentive program for certain large businesses to limit the appraised value on their property for the purposes of local Texas public school district property taxes.
Education – Community Colleges
Relating to the establishment of the Texas Reskilling and Upskilling through Education (TRUE) Initiative to support workforce education at public junior colleges. Would establish program for Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to award grants to public junior colleges for creating, redesigning, or expanding workforce training programs that lead to postsecondary industry certifications or other workforce credentials required for high-demand occupations.
Status: SB 1102 Referred to Higher Education, public hearing held 3/24/21 (Due to technical difficulties, the audio level is very low for approx. the first three minutes.)
Education – Higher
SB 994 – Sen.’s Powell | Blanco | Eckhardt | Hinojosa | Johnson | Menéndez | Miles | Zaffirini
Relating to measures to facilitate the successful completion of degree and certificate programs by certain adult learners at public institutions of higher education. Texas Recovery Act to address “stop-outs”: 1) Stopped out adult learners who have completed 75 percent of their coursework toward a certification would receive a “signing bonus” to decrease their tuition at their chosen institution equivalent to 25 percent of the average tuition and required fees; 2) Public institutions will receive success points outside of the current formula for adult learner completion and additional points for completion in critical needs fields; 3) Businesses would be provided an incentive to participate in on-the-job-training and work with area institutions to meet regional workforce needs
Veterans
Relating to the award of grants by the Texas Workforce Commission to facilitate the participation of certain veterans and military personnel in apprenticeship training programs.
Relating to the entitlement of certain military veterans to obtain a nursing license by examination. Would allow for veterans with nursing experience to take the NCLEX exam once without having to complete pre-requisites.
Status: Referred to Vet Affairs & Border Security
Work-based Learning
Relating to certain public school workforce training programs funded by the skills development fund and to authorizing school districts to provide funding using money received under the Foundation School Program to community-based organizations for purposes of reimbursing private employers for paid internships provided to certain students in career and technology education programs in the district.
|
|
TEDC Accepting Nominations for the 2021 Workforce Excellence Awards |
|
The Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC) is accepting nominations for its 2021 Workforce Excellence Award. Applications must be received by 5:00 PM CST on April 30th, 2021.
The Workforce Excellence Award program recognizes exceptional contributions by a Texas community or region that has implemented successful workforce initiatives. The award criteria is based on these five objectives:
- Innovativeness
- Transferability
- Community commitment and leverage
- Measured objectives
- Secondary benefits
Award applications must be submitted by TEDC members; local workforce boards are encouraged to reach out to their area Economic Development Corporations (EDC's) to collaborate on developing submissions related to the many successful collaborations between workforce boards and EDC's in your workforce area.
|
|
2021 TAWB Partners Program |
|
In 2021 the Texas Association of Workforce Boards (TAWB) will provide increased opportunities for companies and organizations with a stake in workforce development in Texas to support the state's 28 workforce development boards and to build awareness of their products and services. These include:
- Attendance at TAWB membership meetings and events
- Company spotlights and links in TAWB e-newsletter
- Educational Webinar Presentations*
- Exhibit Space at Virtual Events
- Enhanced Presence on TAWB Website
- Company/Organization Resources on TAWB website*
*Prior Approval Required
|
|
Workforce Development Resources |
|
Texas Workforce Commission website includes New Board Member Orientation Materials, Training Requirement & Options and other resources for local workforce development board members.
Use this resource to frame your initial conversations about collaborating with other organizations or stakeholders. Answer these key questions first to give your partnership a better chance at success.
Across eight of the world’s largest economies, 107 million workers, 60-70% of those low-wage workers, will need to find a different occupation by 2030 due to disruptions caused by COVID-19, according to a new report from the McKinsey Global Institute. To combat these challenges, CTE and work-based learning opportunities, such as technical training, apprenticeships and credentialing, need to be greatly expanded to secondary students.
This report from American Student Assistance, is a state-by-state analysis of high school work-based learning policies.
Monthly newsletter produced by TWC Labor Market and Career Information Department covering issues relating to the Texas economy.
|
|
The Center for Work Ethic Development brings to you both, Bring Your 'A' Game and the brand-new, online Bring Your ‘A’ Game Anywhere. Both training programs build the seven foundational workplace skills of Work Ethic that employers demand. Developed with the unique needs and challenges of workforce development in mind, the two solutions give you the flexibility to deal with our new reality and prepare participants to earn their Certificate of Work Ethic Proficiency. Workplace skills will be even more important for job seekers in the days ahead and now you can develop them in person or online!
C2 Global Professional Services was founded to offer a viable, and now successfully proven, alternative to what is available in terms of service providers. We look for Workforce Investment Board partners to commit to working beyond workforce dogma to improve communities, invest in staff development to achieve exceptional customer service and invest in innovation and technology to improve the system.
CEV Multimedia has specialized in providing quality CTE curriculum and educational resources for over 35 years. In 2012, CEV introduced iCEV, an online platform revolutionizing the way CEV produces and delivers educational content. iCEV is the most comprehensive online resource for CTE educators and students offering learning-on-demand features, video clips streaming and testing and grading capabilities to any device with Internet capabilities. Additionally, iCEV acts as a certification testing platform for industry certifications. Recognized companies and trade associations such as Southwest Airlines, Express Employment Professionals, Elanco and BASF utilize iCEV as the testing platform for their certifications.
CompTIA offers training solutions to provide traditional accelerated courses and fully customized training to meet business needs. With job-focused training that mirrors the workplace, learners have greater employment and advancement opportunities. Our custom offerings include access to the entire CompTIA certification catalog with labs and hands-on training, as well as soft, employability skills training. CompTIA Custom Training brings best-in-class instructor-led training on-site or in a virtual environment to workforce development initiatives, corporations, academic institutions, government entities and nonprofit organizations.
Equus Workforce Solutions: Our dedicated and passionate team of 2,500+ workforce professionals puts the industry's best practices to work across more than 350 North American locations, assisting approximately 1.9 million job seekers and thousands of employers annually. Together with our partners and collaborators, we work every day to change lives, advance economies, and help communities thrive.
Grant Associates is a national, award-winning workforce development company. Since opening our doors in 1997, we have collaborated with government agencies to develop workforce programs and solutions that create the opportunities that advance job seekers, businesses and local economies, all with exceptional results. At Grant Associates, we know every community's workforce needs are unique. With proven models and in active partnership with government, Grant Associates' mission is to tailor solutions that build workforce capacity, proving over the past two decades that our approach helps a community reach its true potential.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
