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Workforce Update - June 2024

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U.S. Congressional Action on Workforce

Senate Releases WIOA Reauthorization Discussion Draft

A recent TAWB Congressional Update includes a summary issued by the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB) on congressional initiatives to reauthorize the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The Congressional Update also includes:


WIOA-HELP Bipartisan Senate Discussion Draft

Section-by-section Summary of the Senate WIOA Draft Bill

TAWB Senate WIOA Reauthorization Letter Template


U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health & Human Services and Education

The June 28, 2024 Texas Workforce Commission Washington Board Update included a report on a meeting June 27 of the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health & Human Services and Education focusing on the FY 25 appropriations draft for Labor, Health & Human Services and Education.


The draft provides a total discretionary allocation of $185.8 billion, which is $23.8 billion (11%) below the Fiscal Year 2024 effective spending level, and $36.2 billion (15%) below the President’s Budget Request. Specifically for the Department of Labor (DOL), the draft provides a discretionary total of $10.5 billion which is $3 billion (23%) below the FY24 enacted level and $3.6 billion below the President’s Budget Request. Text of the draft can be viewed here.


This chart highlights certain FY25 funding levels in the U.S. House Appropriations draft compared to the President’s FY 25 budget request and FY 24 enacted levels


The U.S. House Appropriations Committee draft rescinds the FY 25 advance in the amount of $712 million for Adult Employment and Training Activities which was included in HR 2882, Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024 and signed into law in March of this year. The draft also eliminates funding for Youth Employment and Training Activities, which the Committee proposed last year as well. 

 

The Subcommittee reported the bill favorably to the full Committee by voice vote. The bill will now be considered by the full U.S. House Appropriations Committee on July 10th.


For bill or data requests, additional analyses, or related questions, contact TWC Governmental Relations Department at 512-463-1802.

Latest News

Texas Achieves 10 Consecutive Months of Record High Jobs with 41,800 Added in May

Texas’ annual nonfarm employment expanded by 2.3 percent which outpaced the nation by half a point, as the state added 316,700 jobs since May 2023.


After decades of lobbying by Christian conservative donors, school voucher legislation may finally have the votes

Gov. Greg Abbott succeeded in his campaign against Republicans who defied him on school vouchers. Now he may finally get the votes he needs to pass a bill.


With too few mental health providers, more patients turn to primary care

While primary care is experiencing its own workforce shortage, the profession is shouldering more mental health screenings to help bridge the behavioral health provider gap.


HELP Committee Holds Hearing on WIOA Reauthorization

On June 12, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee held a hearing about reauthorizing the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).


TWC Awards $149,364 Training Grant to Workforce Solutions Lower Rio Grande Valley and Local Partners

Workforce Solutions Lower Rio Grande Valley will use the grant in partnership with Pharr Economic Development Corporation and Rio Grande Valley College to help train 50 individuals for high-demand occupations as life scientists, occupational health and safety technicians, medical assistants, phlebotomists, and more.


Disaster Unemployment Assistance Available in Eight Additional Counties Due to Impacts of Recent Severe Weather

The amended Presidential Disaster Declaration now includes Austin, Bell, Calhoun, Collin, Cooke, Coryell, Ellis, Dallas, Denton, Eastland, Falls, Guadalupe, Hardin, Harris, Henderson, Hockley, Jasper, Jones, Kaufman, Lamar, Leon, Liberty, Montague, Montgomery, Navarro, Newton, Polk, San Jacinto, Smith, Terrell, Trinity, Tyler, Van Zandt, Walker, and Waller Counties.


TWC Awards $122,013 Training Grant to Workforce Solutions Texoma and Local Partners

Workforce Solutions Texoma will use the grant in partnership with Denison Independent School District, Grayson College, and Texas Industries to purchase equipment that will help prepare 36 individuals for high-demand occupations in the semiconductor manufacturing industry.


Child Care Challenges

One of the most significant problems facing working parents is finding high-quality, affordable child care. It's an issue not only for the families involved, but also for the workforce, the economy, society, and long-term prosperity.


TWC Launches New Grant Program to Invest in Texas’ Future Workforce

The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is now accepting applications for the Lone Star Workforce of the Future Fund, a program designed to increase qualified workers in high-demand occupations. The program was created by the 88th Texas Legislature through the passage of HB 1755, then signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott.


An Alabama manufacturer shows how to retain working moms: child care

When the joint-venture auto plant went into full production in 2022, its leaders considered what was needed to lure a modern-day workforce. Child care was near the top.


High school students’ math scores are still lagging, STAAR results show

Algebra scores have not recovered since the pandemic, raising worries about students’ readiness for STEM-related jobs.


New Funding Opportunity: Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs Grants

The Department of Labor announced $35 million in additional funding for the second round of the Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs grants, part of the Biden-Harris administration's "Investing in America" agenda. This initiative aims to expand training access for high-quality infrastructure jobs.

The Brand Amplifier for Workforce & Education

TAWB is now live with The Brand Amplifier for Workforce & Education course in partnership with Full Capacity Marketing (FCM). You can check out the landing page for all the details of the course curriculum, and view the national press release that was released last month.

The online self-paced course comes with templates, case studies and tools to help you build a tailored and doable marketing and communications plan. Click on the flyer here to access learning outcomes and descriptions.

Workforce Development Resources

Defining the skills citizens will need in the future world of work

To future-proof citizens’ ability to work, they will require new skills—but which ones? A survey of 18,000 people in 15 countries suggests those that governments may wish to prioritize.


Texas Digital Divide Fact Sheet

The National Skills Coalition recently released individual state fact sheets that complement the Closing the Digital Divide report.


A Guide to Recruiting Board Members

Building a board is not just about recruiting one great individual, but about finding leaders who have skill sets and perspectives that align with your organization’s values, strategies, goals, and needs. It’s important the board understands and represents its community in the present, but also in the future.


June 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.


Equifax/Carahsoft delivers trusted, unique data, analytics, technology, and expertise to drive innovation and transform knowledge into insights. Equifax empowers government agencies, nonprofit organizations, workforce boards and commercial clients to make more informed decisions, maximize program efficiency, and improve the customer experience. Equifax manages The Work Number®, the largest, centralized commercial repository of consolidated employment and income information for use by the private and public sectors. For customers with a permissible purpose under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”), Equifax enables real-time eligibility decisions by providing verifications of employment and income. Data is updated every pay period (as provided by the employer), so you have access to the most up-to-date information to gauge program success of the individuals who have elected to participate in the program. For more information about the Equifax Products and Services visit the website https://www.carahsoft.com/equifax or contact us at 844.747.6222.


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.


Texas Economic Development Council: The Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC) is an Austin-based professional association for economic developers across the state of Texas. We are the largest state association of economic development professionals, volunteers, and elected officials. Our membership consists of over 1,000 individuals, representing more than 630 public and private economic development organizations, including more than 400 communities. Our diverse and expansive membership shares a common goal -- bringing new investment and jobs to Texas by developing strategies that promote a positive business climate in our state.





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