Workforce Update - November/December 2023

Stronger Workforce for America Act

On December 12 the House Education and the Workforce Committee advanced H.R. 6655, the “Stronger Workforce for America Act,” – the bipartisan WIOA Reauthorization proposal.

Stronger Workforce Bill Summary

Stronger Workforce Bill Fact Sheet

Stronger Workforce Bill Text

Stronger Workforce Bill Section-by-Section

While this bill includes several improvements to WIOA, there have been concerns raised over several provisions, including:

• 50% Training Requirement: The mandate for local workforce development boards to allocate 50% of their funding for training presents a significant challenge.
• Increased Governor's Set-aside for "Critical Industries Fund": The proposal to increase the Governor's set-aside fund by 10% to establish a "critical industries fund" raises concerns about the potential reduction of resources available to local workforce development systems.
• Redesignation of Local Workforce Development Areas: The proposed redesignation of local workforce development areas is another area of concern.

TAWB members and other workforce stakeholders are encouraged o provide feedback on these issues. TAWB will continue to monitor this and other bills as they move forward and provide additional information and opportunities for input.

Workforce Solutions Cameron Hires New Executive Director

Workforce Solutions Cameron (WSC) has a new executive director, Rafael Vela, though former longtime executive director Pat Hobbs is sticking around as CEO for the time being, at the WSC board's request, to show Vela the ropes and help make for a smooth transition.

Rafael Vela

The board hired Vela on Sept. 28. Hobbs, who served 13 years as the organization's executive director, reviewed the 26 applicants for the job and selected two finalists for the board to vote on. He said he'll "exit stage left" once he's gotten Vela up to speed on what the job entails.

Vela, a graduate of St. Edward's University and brother of former U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela, has a passion for and deep connection with Cameron County, and will work with emerging and expanding industry partners to meet their workforce needs while driving economic prosperity for the region, Hobbs said.

WSC is one of 28 local workforce boards throughout Texas whose primary mission is to "meet the needs of employers and job seekers through locally designed, market-driven workforce development initiatives and services," he said.

TAWB 4th Quarter Meetings

The TAWB 4th Quarter, 2023 meetings were conducted November 28-29 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Houston. The meetings included several highly informative sessions presented to TAWB members and partners, including:

• TWC Commissioners Updates from TWC Chairman Bryan Daniel, TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Alberto Trevino, and newly sworn-in Commissioner Representing Employers Joe Esparza.

• Presentation on "Leveraging HB 8 to Align with Regional Workforce Needs" by Texas Association of Community Colleges (TACC) CEO Ray Martinez and TACC Sr. Director of Government Relations Jacob Cottingham. HB 8, passed during the 88th Texas Legislature, represents a transformational bill for community colleges in the state, and one that will put Texas at the forefront of higher education nationwide. The new funding model is a dynamic formula that rewards colleges based on student outcomes and success.

• A "State Economic Development Update" provided by Betty Russo, Community Relations Specialist for the Governor’s Office of Economic Development & Tourism.

How one nonprofit is empowering people to achieve economic mobility

The Valley Initiative For Development and Advancement started in 1995 as a nonprofit to help economically empower residents in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Over the years, the organization has developed partnerships with businesses and colleges to help train residents for the local workforce and served over 600 students each year.

House Lawmakers Unveil Bipartisan Short-Term Pell Proposal

Earlier this week Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) along with Reps. Bobby Scott (D-VA), Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA) introduced R. 6586, the Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act, a bill that would allow Pell Grant funding for short-term postsecondary degree programs with the goal of aligning education opportunities with workforce needs.

TWC Awards $150,000 Training Grant to Workforce Solutions Texoma and Local Partners

Workforce Solutions Texoma will use the grant in partnership with Sherman Economic Development Corporation and Sherman Independent School District to help train students for high-demand occupations in the growing semiconductor workforce.

Perryman: Literacy and the Workforce

Texas lags the national literacy rate by a significant margin, says economist M. Ray Perryman. Only 40% of Texas adults have literacy of Level 3 or higher, with the US rate being 46%.

More U.S. companies no longer requiring job seekers to have a college degree

In response to a tight labor market, employers are increasingly prioritizing skills over college degrees, with 45 percent eliminating degree requirements for certain roles in the past year. This shift, driven by a need for specific skills and to combat degree inflation, is more prevalent among small businesses.

THE ECONOMIST: Where the jobs are

Improving the capacity to meet future workforce needs can enhance job opportunities and, in many cases, income levels. At the same time, such improvement helps ensure that Texas will continue to grow and prosper.

An effort to prepare West Texas students to work in the oil and gas industry is expanding

The expansion, which will start with a smaller pilot in four high schools between Texas and New Mexico, is being paid for by the Permian Strategic Partnership, a group funded by major energy producers.

Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas names Interim President, Ashlee Verner

With a proven track record in workforce development and a deep commitment to the mission, she brings valuable expertise coupled with her strong financial knowledge to Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas.

Texas’ Civilian Labor Force Continues Growth

The Lone Star State’s seasonally adjusted civilian labor force reached a new record high of 15,162,100 after growing by 20,900 people over the month in October. This marked the 10th consecutive monthly increase and included the addition of 21,100 Texans employed over the month. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 4.1 percent.

New Commissioner Representing Employers Joe Esparza Joins Texas Workforce Commission

Today the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) welcomed Joe Esparza following his swearing-in ceremony at the Texas Capitol. Governor Greg Abbott appointed Esparza as the Texas Workforce Commission’s new Commissioner Representing Employers, where he will serve almost 650,000 Texas employers that support more than 14 million jobs for Texans. 

TWC Awarded $4.6 Million Grant to Expand Reentry Workforce Services

The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is investing in efforts to enhance existing rehabilitation and reentry efforts after receiving a $4.6 million Partners for Reentry Opportunities in Workforce Development (PROWD) Grant. The funding, which comes from the U.S. Department of Labor in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice, will be used to extend employment services to individuals who are incarcerated or released from federal prisons. 

Will Texas build the workforce it needs?

Workforce development is a work in progress.

As Goodwill CEO, Carlos Contreras has opened new stores, but it’s all about the workforce

Along with its 23 local stores, the nonprofit operates the Good Careers Academy, where it offers vocational training to help people launch careers as nurses’ aides, pharmacy technicians and truck drivers. It is a partner in the NXT Level agency helping teenagers and young adults earn educations and find jobs.

Texas is nation's best state for business, survey finds

Corporate site selectors, who prioritize factors such as ease of permitting, availability of needed workforce skills, land and quality of life, put Texas at the top of the list based on their experience in finding project sites in the state.

Moving About

Texas continues to set the pace for job gains, and economic opportunities will encourage people to move here. 

TWC Employer of the Year Awards

Each year the Texas Workforce Commission honors employers whose innovation, hard work, and investment in the Texas workforce system contribute to the state’s thriving economy and its more than 11.5 million workers. These outstanding employers show how successful Texas Workforce Solutions can be when we work together.

Board Recruitment Process

Having a formal board recruitment process allows organizations to build an effective, skillful, and diverse board. It also allows you to fill vacancies on the board in an efficient and effective manner.

Texas Economic Performance and Outlook (October 2023): “Employment Growth Rebounds, Inflation Turns Up"

In its latest Texas Economic Performance and Outlook report, the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas highlights the job-generating performance of the following sectors:

• Education and Health Services
• Manufacturing
• Professional and Business Services

According to the bank's analysis, these three industries combine for about 36% of total state employment in September 2023. Growth in these areas is significant for the state's broader job market.

Credential Transparency: Judging Return on Investment for Higher Education and Workforce

The American Enterprise Institute recently published a report exploring the major shortage of highly skilled workers across the nation and the actions that state leaders and policymakers can take to close the talent gap through increased credential transparency methods. Researchers found that 26 states across the nation are working on increasing Credential Transparency Description Language (CTDL) adoption and registries within their territories. The analysts focused particularly on Texas, Indiana and Arkansas.

PLAYBOOK: WORKFORCE INVESTMENTS THAT WORK: White House Releases Playbook Identifying Effective Workforce Investments

The White House recently released a playbook centered around effective workforce development strategies utilized by states and local governments through funding from the American Rescue Plan. It cites Harris County, Texas’s $10.9 million investment in its Apprenticeship Advantage Initiative, which provides the opportunity to join union apprenticeships and technology programs to over 1,000 low-income residents. 

Going Beyond Effective: Becoming an Exceptional Board Member

The more comfortable you become in your role on a nonprofit board, the more opportunities exist for you to enhance your board leadership. Download our guide for some thought starters on increasing your effectiveness.

Be an Exceptional Board Member

Whether you are a first-time board member or an experienced member accepting a role with a new/different organization, we have tips to help you prepare.

Closing the Workforce Gap: How Economic Developers Can Address Shortages in the Job Market

The modern job market is evolving rapidly, driven by technological advancements, shifting demographics, and changing economic landscapes. As a result, many regions across the globe are facing significant shortages in the workforce, posing challenges to economic growth and development. However, with the right strategies and initiatives, economic developers can play a vital role in addressing these shortages and bridging the workforce gap. 

The Key to Positive Employment Outcomes for Adults with Developmental Disabilities

Research shows that vocational education programs improve employment outcomes for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This study looks at the relationship between the number of job-specific training sessions completed and eventual community employment.

November 2023 Texas Labor Market Review

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

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.