Gov. Greg Abbott and 87th Legislature have set up Texas and Texans for better workforce development outcomes and economic success through measures to align and support workforce and education goals.

The Texas Education and Workforce Alignment Act formalized existing collaboration by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), and Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) to align workforce goals rooted in employer insights, and make outcomes data accessible. Read more from the Partnership's Houston Report blog.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) has opened the submission period for employers with internship opportunities for Texas college and university students over the spring, summer and fall 2022 semesters. Applications to participate in the Texas Working Off-Campus: Reinforcing Knowledge and Skills (WORKS) Internship Program (TXWORKS) are due July 30, 2021. Meaningful internships, such as those sought for the TXWORKS program, can provide students with valuable experience and opportunities to build job and professional skills while completing real work that helps employers achieve their business goals.

The student eligibility submission period will run from July 12 to July 30, 2021.

Learn more and get started here.

Apprenticeships are valuable tools employers can use to develop talent with specific skills with a good return on their investment. Though traditionally associated with construction trades, the apprenticeship model lends itself well to jobs ranging from tax preparers to insurance underwriters to photovoltaic installers — and yet, they are underutilized.

During an UpSkill Works Forum held in June, guests Joseph B. Fuller, professor of management practice at Harvard Business School, and Mary Beth Gracy, office managing director for Accenture, discussed the untapped potential for apprenticeships for building a skilled entry-level workforce, exploring misconceptions around the apprenticeship model as well as new areas where apprenticeships could help employers meet key workforce needs.

The Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC) has recognized the Economic Alliance Houston Port Region and Patti Bell, its Dream It. Do It. Southeast Texas program manager, for creating a replicable model for continuing workforce development outreach throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before COVID, Bell introduced students and career seekers to opportunities within the petrochemical manufacturing industry and the career matching tool PetrochemWorks.com at schools, conferences and career events. At the onset of COVID, she began recording sessions of various lengths and for different age groups and audiences, and created accompanying lesson plans other easily accessible and useable materials to support teachers conducting classes virtually or other industry outreach volunteers. The recordings have been used by schools and shown at CTE conferences, and reach an audience on YouTube.