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Workforce Update - October 2023

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Latest News

Texas judge temporarily blocks release of “unlawful” school accountability ratings

The ruling comes after dozens of school districts sued the Texas Education Agency, claiming the revised accountability system would hurt their ratings.


Gov. Greg Abbott, House at impasse over school voucher bill as special session winds down

Vouchers are the governor’s top legislative priority. But he has signaled opposition to a proposed House compromise that would tie them to increased funding for public schools.


Is a ‘child care cliff’ lurking ahead for Dallas-Fort Worth day care providers?

Pandemic-era funding for child care businesses ended Sept. 30, putting an already struggling industry in a tight spot.


Texas Job Count Reaches Historic Milestone

Lone Star State surpasses 14 million jobs, continues growth streak.


Not all urban counties have the same housing solution, but they have the same problem

Housing affordability was just one of the big topics that the members of NACo’s Large Urban County Caucus (LUCC) discussed Oct. 4-6 at their symposium in Orange County, Fla., including Artificial Intelligence, workforce development and disaster mitigation.


TWC Hosts 2023 White Cane Day to Celebrate Contributions Made by the Blind and Visually Impaired

The annual event is held to educate the world about blindness and how the blind and visually impaired can live and work independently while giving back to their communities.


Texas needs water workers. Will high school students answer the call?

Nearly two-thirds of the state’s water and wastewater agencies say they need more workers.


Why better preparation, more experience is critical for teacher retention

Education advocates want lawmakers to bolster training requirements so teachers have a better chance of staying.


TWC Awards $15,000 Training Grant to Workforce Solutions Deep East Texas and Local Partners

Workforce Solutions Deep East Texas will use the grant in partnership with Crockett Economic and Industrial Development Corporation to help 62 students from Crockett Independent School District earn certifications in high demand occupations such as healthcare, forklift operations, and risk management.


As Texans struggle with housing costs, cities look for new ways to spur more home construction

In cities dominated by single-family neighborhoods, local leaders across Texas want a broader variety of housing to combat the affordability crisis.


AARON DEMERSON APPOINTED NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO OF TEXAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Texas Economic Development Corporation (TxEDC) Board of Directors today announced Aaron Demerson will serve as the organization’s new President and CEO. Mr. 

Demerson is the former Commissioner Representing Employers for the Texas Workforce Commission.


North Texas has a nursing shortage. What’s being done to address it?

Recently, health care organizations across Tarrant County have picked up the pace in providing critical financial aid to prospective nurses.


Texas is adding oil patch jobs, but how many and for how long is unclear

Jobs in the Texas oil patch jumped in August after dipping earlier in the summer as the state’s oil and gas industry maintains its steady climb back to pre-pandemic employment levels.


The Most Telling Insight In The History Of Higher Education

When asked what they believe would be most helpful for a high school graduate to launch a career, Americans overwhelmingly recommend an internship at Google (60%) over a degree from Harvard (40%).


Why Gen Z Are Rejecting ‘Prestige’ Jobs

In the current economic landscape, different generations are having different experiences in the workforce. This week, take a peek into Gen Z and Gen X. 

TAWB Partners Program
The Texas Association of Workforce Boards (TAWB) provides 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
  • Enhanced Presence on TAWB Website
  • Company/Organization Resources on TAWB website*
*Prior Approval Required


For more information, contact Greg Vaughn, (214) 620-9165; greg.vaughn@tawb.org
Workforce Development Resources

FACT SHEET: To Launch Investing in America Tour, the Biden-⁠Harris Administration Kicks off Sprint to Catalyze Workforce Development Efforts for Advanced Manufacturing Jobs and Careers

Earlier this month, to launch the third Investing in America tour, the Biden-Harris Administration is hosting a White House convening to officially kick off its Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Sprint—an intensive drive to build a diverse, skilled pipeline of workers for good jobs, including union jobs, in advanced manufacturing.


Texas by the Numbers

Texas proudly ranks as the 8th largest economy in the world! Download this graphic from the Governor's Office of Economic Development & Tourism.


A Multi-Pronged Approach to Upskilling

As the pandemic pummeled Pennsylvania’s state employment rate, leaders quickly realized that silver linings were buried deep in the economic chaos and uncertainty. In collaboration with Metrix Learning, Pennsylvania executed a multi-pronged approach to address the lapses in equity, digital literacy, and employment with a malleable upskilling platform that continues to shape the progress of the Pennsylvania workforce and economy today.


Congressional Appropriations Letter

In response to the proposed House FY24 Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations Bill, TAWB has joined with a broader stakeholder group to a sign on to a letter to Congressional leadership urging support robust investments in workforce and education to meet the needs of employers and workers alike.


2023 Nonprofit Workforce Survey Results: Communities Suffer as Nonprofit Workforce Shortage Crisis Continues

In April 2023, the networks of the National Council of Nonprofits conducted a second nationwide survey to secure the latest, comprehensive information about the nonprofit workforce.


The Four Principles of Purpose-Driven Board Leadership

Purpose-driven board leadership gives your board leaders principles to guide thinking and decision-making. Learn more about this framework, why it’s important, and how to cultivate purpose-driven board leadership on your board.


October 2023 Texas Labor Market Review

Monthly newsletter produced by TWC Labor Market and Career Information Department covering issues relating to the Texas economy.

TAWB Partners Spotlight

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.


iCEV: Since 1984, iCEV has specialized in providing quality CTE curriculum and educational resources. iCEV is the most comprehensive online resource for CTE educators and students, offering curriculum for several major subject areas, including agricultural science, trade & industrial education, business & marketing, career exploration, family & consumer science, health science, law enforcement and STEM education. Additionally, iCEV acts as a certification testing platform for industry certifications. Nationally and internationally recognized companies and organizations utilize iCEV as the testing platform for their certifications. For more information, visit www.icevonline.com.


The Conover Company has been developing tools for over 40 years to help workforce professionals assess and train their clients with the social and emotional skills for success. Their online tools help you stay focused on outcomes by making sure the assessments drive training so it is meaningful for every individual client you serve and you get the results you are looking for.


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.


Geographic Solutions is the leading provider of integrated software for state and local workforce agencies in over 35 states and U.S. territories. For 30 years, the company has developed innovative online solutions for job seekers, employers, service providers, and agency staff that enhance service delivery and increase customer satisfaction. Geographic Solutions’ custom software solutions effectively manage all federally-funded partner programs under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and have been designed specifically to meet the diverse needs of American Job Centers, economic development agencies, human service entities, unemployment agencies, departments of corrections, and educational institutions.


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.


KRA Corporation, a national leader in workforce development for 40+ years, supports workforce boards by delivering WIOA, TANF, SNAP-E&T, and related programs, including initiatives targeting specific employer and jobseeker requirements. A black-owned company, KRA leads efforts to integrate DEI into workforce development. We also lead the industry in delivering a consultative approach to business services, and infuse family-focused principles into everything we do. KRA leverages all available resources, partnering to integrate education, skills development, occupational training, support services, and employment. KRA provides the highest levels of innovative programming, exceptional service, and trusted results for all valued clients, businesses, and jobseekers.


Metrix Learning® is an online learning platform designed to meet the needs of states, workforce boards, and their customers. Learners can assess their job skills, remediate skill gaps, and take over 100 certification training programs to prepare for new employment opportunities. Metrix Learning® offers over 6,000 online courses, career pathways tools, digital badges, gamification, and is integrated with WorkInTexas.


Purpose Co is a workforce consulting firm that specializes in designing and implementing custom workforce solutions and strategies that create sustainable outcomes for people and businesses, including pathways to quality in-demand jobs, economic mobility, competitive businesses and regional economic prosperity, including solutions that address the specific needs of job seekers, workers, employers and practitioners.


QuickStart exists to create world-class technologists by personalizing and individualizing training to address the massive skills gap in the IT industry. Through 20 years of research and data analysis, we’ve learned that a modern learner prefers to learn through multiple modalities such as self-paced online learning, virtual instructor-led training, on-the-job training, implementation and hands-on experience through labs, mentoring, and social and peer-to-peer learning. We packaged all the modalities into a single cloud-based platform called CLIPP.