A letter from Peter Beard, Sr. Vice President, Regional Workforce Development. Houston’s talent and human capital, whether it's cultivated and developed here at home or attracted from other regions, is the backbone, brainpower, innovation, and energy that powers our diverse economy. So, as UpSkill Houston looks to its next five to ten years, Greater Houston is poised to significantly move a talent and skills first approach that increases mobility and opportunity for the region’s residents and strengthens the region’s economy. At the end of the day, our work is a marathon which can improve the resilience of Houston and its residents. UpSkill Houston, with more than a decade of collaborative work, demonstrates strong and effective employer, education and community partnerships focused on creating results and improving student and adult learner outcomes and opportunities. By celebrating individual achievements, we inspire others to emulate success. This collective approach drives systemic change, enabling transformative impact on scale. The leaders and organizations that are part of UpSkill Houston’s collective table have built a strong -foundation —a “good start”—and have propelled us in the “right direction” However, there is much “more to do” in order to fulfill the mission: ensuring the Houston and Gulf Coast region has one of the finest skilled workforces in the world while providing opportunity and mobility for the residents of the region. As regional economies continue their transition from industrial economies to knowledge-based and digital and technology enabled ones, the skills individuals will need to succeed in their occupations will continue to evolve at an increasing pace. At the same time, every individual will need to be equipped with a core set of foundational and essential skills to succeed in life, work and education. We are hearing from employers in Houston that individuals being work-ready requires they have skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, time management, communications, continuous learning, grit and persistence, digital literacy, teamwork and collaboration, ability to learn, etc. While this is a substantial list many of these skills are developed and refined over time and with practice by applying them at home, on the playground, in school, on the playing field, and in so many other places. Whether it is the artificial heart or cancer cures, new energy technologies like CCS, or putting a man on the moon, Houston innovates on some of the world’s most challenging problems. On this most fundamental and existential challenge of Talent and Skills First, we will need to develop new partnerships and efforts to ensure that young people attending our schools can enter the workforce with a good job and adult learners, in collaboration with community and education partners, develop new skills to get amazing career opportunities. We have several outstanding examples of effective practices including but not limited to, Genesys Works, Junior Achievement’s 3DE, the Industrial Craft Competition at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. UpSkill Houston’s opportunity is to leverage its employer-led approach to build new partnerships with education and community partners, and together we can reach back into the early grades and support young people as they progress through the K-12 system and enter the post-secondary system or the workforce. Our goal is to scale these efforts across the region, creating meaningful impact for generations to come. Are you ready to be part of this transformative journey? Join us in shaping the future!

Since its launch in 2014, the Greater Houston Partnership’s UpSkill Houston initiative has become a cornerstone of regional workforce development, uniting leaders from over 200 businesses, educational institutions, and community organizations to create a skilled and resilient workforce for the Houston and Texas Gulf Coast region. Celebrating 10 years of impact, UpSkill Houston has focused on building talent pipelines essential to the growth and global competitiveness of local industries. UpSkill Houston's regional impact: 150 employers engaged in four industry sector collaboratives focused on building talent pipelines. Over 70 education, community and workforce organizations committed to collaborating with employers. More than 200,000 students impacted, showcasing how deeply intertwined UpSkill’s work is with both the business community and our educational institutions.  Fostering Industry and Education Partnerships One of UpSkill Houston’s key strengths lies in the partnerships it has fostered between industry and education. Through collaborations with Greater Houston Partnership members and partners, these efforts have spurred the development of workforce programs that not only meet the needs of local employers but also provide students with direct paths to sustainable careers. Examples include: San Jacinto College’s Center for Petrochemical Energy and Technology Alvin Community College and Lonza collaboration Industrial Craft Competition at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo   A Catalyst for Economic Mobility  “UpSkill Houston plays an important role in the Partnership’s ‘Opportunity for All’ pillar, which aims to increase economic prosperity and mobility for residents while ensuring industries have the skilled workers needed to grow the region’s economy and strengthen its global competitiveness,” Katie Pryor, the Partnership’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, said during the 10th anniversary conference.   In 2023, the Burning Glass Institute (BGI) selected the Greater Houston and Texas Gulf Coast region to be its partner site for its Jobs That Mobilize (JTM) initiative. The initiative is testing and deploying a new data-driven approach that uses skills adjacencies to help workers achieve greater mobility in the Houston region. BGI’s research has uncovered several key insights: On average, skills-based transitions provide a 15 percent wage increase between origin roles and JTM roles.  JTM roles provide long-term mobility for workers.  Roles often expand talent pools for employers by twice or three times more. According to BGI, 37 percent of the skills requirements for a given occupation have changed over the past five years. BGI President Matt Sigelman provided three things the Houston region must do to ensure growth and economic opportunity: Know what talent you will need and where the gaps lie.   Develop a strategy for targeted upskilling and reskilling.  Grow the pie by tapping hidden talent pools and playing your whole team.   Preparing for Houston’s Future Workforce As the regional economy transitions from industrial into a knowledge-based, technology-enabled economy, UpSkill Houston will continue its leadership in driving a skills-first approach that meets the changing demands of employers. “Our human capital is the Houston region’s single greatest asset,” Peter Beard, Sr. Vice President of regional workforce development, said. “Our workforce, whether we cultivate and develop it here in the region or attract it from other parts of the country or world, our workers are the backbone, brainpower, innovation, and ultimately, they are the power that drives and grows our economy.” As UpSkill Houston enters its second decade, the initiative remains committed to ensuring that Houston’s workforce is equipped with the skills needed to thrive in the region’s evolving economy, while continuing to drive inclusive economic growth for all residents. See how UpSkill Houston's decade of collaboration continues to shape the future of workforce mobility and drive economic growth for our region. Learn more about how you can get engaged in UpSkill.

[PRESS RELEASE] - The tech industry in the state of Texas is booming, with a growing demand for skilled workers in Cloud/IT support, software development and data analytics. According to LinkedIn, there are over 8,000 tech jobs currently unfilled in the state of Texas. To address this talent gap, AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance is expanding into Texas with support from key collaborators across industry, education and government with the goal of helping to modernize tech programs of study at higher education institutions, connecting learners to in-demand tech jobs and supporting the development of a highly-skilled tech workforce in the Lone Star State. "As the pace of technological change advances in every market, the need for a globally diverse, digitally skilled pipeline has never been more important. The expansion of the AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance into Texas further demonstrates our commitment to bring together government, education, industry and nonprofits to address this critical need and enable future economic growth," said Valerie Singer, AWS Global Education Lead. The initial launch of the Tech Alliance in Texas focuses on the Houston and Dallas metropolitan areas. These two major hubs are home to a diverse array of employers seeking tech talent and a robust system of educational institutions ready to prepare the next generation of Cloud and IT professionals. This launch represents a critical step in addressing the talent gap in the state's tech industry. Four of the state's higher education institutions have come together as part of the region's initial launch: Texas State University Houston Community College Dallas College Kilgore College Several of the state's most innovative companies will collaborate with AWS to identify talent needs, provide real-world learning experiences for students and hire qualified candidates into tech roles. These employers include Brooksource Corestack DLZP Group JP Morgan Chase Tanches Global Management TEKsystems "JP Morgan Chase has been deeply ingrained in the Texas community for more than a century and a half, tracing its origins back to the First National Bank of Houston," said Stacey Laurent, Vice President and Lead Technical Program Manager for JP Morgan Chase. "We prioritize investing in our community's individuals. As proud members of the AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance, we eagerly anticipate contributing to the worldwide movement that revitalizes tech education and fosters a diverse, skilled pool of talent, enriching the landscape of Texas. Diversity stands as a cornerstone of our values at JP Morgan Chase; it is essential for fostering innovation and progress." Recently, Texas has been recognized for its innovative approach to aligning education policy to its economic goals. Central to these policies is the push to ensure post-secondary programming leads to high quality career pathways for Texans. This alignment of education, workforce and economic development goals fits perfectly with the goals of the Tech Alliance and provides a unique partnership opportunity with the state. To ensure that the program continues to amplify the state's priorities, AWS will work closely with the Texas Workforce Commission and the Texas Economic Development Corporation. AWS has a long history of collaborating with organizations in Texas to advance workforce development and skills attainment initiatives. Participation in the Greater Houston Partnership's UpSkill Houston Executive Committee and the Dallas Regional Chamber's Board of Directors has helped position AWS as a regional voice in workforce and economic development. These organizations, along with Alcantar Strategies, will partner with AWS to leverage their extensive networks and community connections to promote Tech Alliance programs and connect learners to opportunities. Through its employer-led UpSkill Houston initiative, the Greater Houston Partnership has invested heavily in advancing the skills and opportunities for Houstonians, ensuring employers have the skilled talent they need to grow and compete," said Peter Beard, Senior Vice President of Regional Workforce Development for the Greater Houston Partnership. "Collaborating with AWS as a member of the AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance will amplify the work we are already accomplishing in Houston and advance the alignment of our talent pipelines to in-demand technology jobs in all industries." "The Dallas Regional Chamber is focused on improving the education, talent and workforce pipeline to support a high-quality life for all people in the Dallas Region," said Elizabeth Caudill McClain, Senior Vice President of Talent Strategies at the Dallas Regional Chamber. "The launch of the AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance poses an exciting opportunity for business leaders across Texas to join together to address the skills gap for high-demand IT jobs while also supporting the economic mobility of Texans - a win-win for the future of our companies and communities." AWS launched the Tech Alliance in June 2023 at the DC Public Sector Summit, bringing together a global coalition of higher education institutions, employers, government and collaborating organizations to address the tech skills gap. The Tech Alliance is currently represented in nine countries (USA, Egypt, Spain, Singapore, Italy, Germany, India, Colombia and Brazil), with four other US states engaged (New York, Illinois, Washington and West Virginia). Since its global launch, the Tech Alliance has connected more than 23,000 learners from over 900 higher education institutions with over 350 employers. To learn more or get involved, please visit the AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance homepage.