Your Workforce Connection | |
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Ordinary People. Extraordinary Impact.
As we continue moving through another strong year of service, I’m reminded that the true strength of Northeast Texas is found in its people, ordinary individuals making an extraordinary impact every day. Across our nine-county region, we see that impact in parents balancing work and family, students exploring career pathways, employers investing in local talent, and partners who help make opportunity possible for others.
Recently, we had the privilege of celebrating many of these “workforce heroes” at our annual awards luncheon, Together We Rise: A Heroic Celebration of Partnership & Progress. The event brought together employers, educators, workforce partners, elected officials, and community leaders to recognize the individuals and organizations helping strengthen our regional workforce. We were also honored to welcome Texas Workforce Commission Chairman Joe Esparza, whose remarks added meaningful perspective and encouragement for the important work happening across our communities.
As we look ahead, Workforce Solutions Northeast Texas remains committed to empowering individuals, supporting employers, and building lasting opportunity for the people of Northeast Texas. With the continued leadership of our Board of Directors, the dedication of our staff, and the collaboration of our partners, we will continue building a stronger Northeast Texas.
Sincerely,
Bart Spivey
Executive Director
| | Together We Rise: A Heroic Celebration of Partnership & Progress | | |
Together We Rise: A Heroic Celebration of Partnership & Progress, brought together employers, educators, workforce partners, elected officials, and community leaders to recognize individuals and organizations making a meaningful impact on the workforce system across Northeast Texas. The event was held at Region 8 Education Service Center and featured remarks from Texas Workforce Commission Chairman Joe Esparza.
The annual celebration honored workforce “heroes” from across the region — including employers investing in people, customers overcoming barriers to employment, educators building career pathways for students, and staff members who deliver services every day through the workforce system.
A special thank you to our sponsors: Huhtamaki, Ledwell, and Christus Health. Also, thank you to our event host, the Region 8 Education Service Center.
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Workforce Solutions Northeast Texas is pleased to share the 2025 Annual Report, which reflects another remarkable year of service and impact across our nine-county region. This report highlights the outcomes made possible through strong partnerships, dedicated staff, and the everyday “workforce heroes” who take steps each day toward opportunity and success.
Inside, you’ll find key numbers and measurable results from the past year—showing how our workforce system supported job seekers, strengthened career pathways for students, helped employers meet hiring needs, and provided child care assistance so parents could remain in the workforce.
As you review the report, I hope you’ll see not only the data, but the real lives behind the numbers—individuals and families who are building a better future through hard work and access to opportunity.
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Workforce development only works when employers are willing to invest in people, by creating jobs, providing training, offering opportunities, and partnering with workforce to strengthen the talent pipeline across Northeast Texas.
During our annual awards luncheon, Workforce Solutions was proud to recognize employers who have gone above and beyond—not only to meet their workforce needs, but to support individuals, strengthen families, and help our communities grow.
Check out the videos below to learn more about why Graphic Packaging International (Large Employer of the Year) and Huhtamaki, Inc. (Small Employer of the Year) are truly deserving of this recognition.
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Northeast Texas Ends 2025 Strong with Workforce Growth
Newly released labor market data for December 2025 shows continued strength across the Workforce Solutions Northeast Texas nine-county region. More residents are participating in the labor force, more people are working, and unemployment remains low, according to data provided by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).
The civilian labor force in the Northeast Texas Workforce Development Area increased by 1,900 residents compared to December 2024, growing to 128,172. This marks the highest December labor force level in the last 15 years. Total employment also grew significantly to 123,309, an additional 1,700 residents working in December 2025 than one year earlier. Together, these gains reflect strong workforce participation and sustained economic engagement across the region.
The unemployment rate in Northeast Texas remained low at 3.8 percent in December 2025. This compares favorably to the statewide unemployment rate of 3.9 percent and the national rate of 4.4 percent, underscoring the region’s continued labor market stability.
Key industries—including Manufacturing, Healthcare, Retail Trade, and Transportation & Logistics—continue to anchor Northeast Texas’s economy and drive demand for skilled talent. High-demand occupations include Registered Nurses, Industrial Maintenance Technicians, CDL Drivers, and Production Workers, underscoring the importance of workforce training and employer partnerships across the region.
| | Delivering Results: Program Success Spotlight | | |
The Mount Pleasant Workforce Center partnered with Marshall’s as the retailer prepared to open its first store in the Northeast Texas region. By utilizing the Workforce Center as a centralized hiring location, Marshall’s was able to conduct an efficient and well-supported recruitment process with assistance from our Business Services team.
Marshall’s conducted 282 interviews, including candidates directly referred by Workforce Center staff. As a result of this collaboration, the company successfully hired 96 new employees. This partnership highlights the value of workforce business services in helping employers meet staffing needs while connecting local job seekers to new employment opportunities.
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Looking for help finding talent or strengthening your workforce? Workforce Solutions can support your business with hiring assistance, job postings, recruiting events, and connections to training resources.
Texas Guidebook for Employers - a comprehensive guide on state and federal employment laws and workplace issues, including unemployment taxes, labor law, hiring and firing.
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Call or Visit your local Workforce Center Today!
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Student and Teacher Externships
Workforce Solutions Northeast Texas has launched the 2025–26 Teacher and Student Work-Based Learning Externship Program, with 60 students and 10 teachers currently participating. Running from December through mid-April, the program provides hands-on learning experiences across key industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, IT, and education.
Students complete 10 hours of job-embedded learning coordinated by teachers and employer partners, helping connect classroom instruction to real-world workforce needs. The program strengthens school-business partnerships while giving students valuable insight into career pathways and professional expectations.
If you are an employer interested in participating in this program, please reach out to Emily.Newsome@netxworks.org for more information.
| | Upcoming Events: Mark Your Calendars | | |
MARK YOUR CALENDARS: Job Fairs in the Northeast Texas region open to all job seekers!
Employers: If you’re interested in registering for one or more events, please email our staff.
Job seekers: Stop by to meet employers, learn about openings, and explore new opportunities.
Be sure to visit the calendar page on our website—we’ll continue adding participating employers for each event. The Community Job Fair will feature a variety of employers and occupations, while the other two events are industry-specific.
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Community Job Fair
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Date: Tuesday March 3, 2026
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Time: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
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Location: Northeast Texas Community College - Student Union Building
- 2886 FM 1735, Mt Pleasant TX, 75455
- For more information: Virginia.Pryor@netxworks.org
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Healthcare/Medical Job Fair
- Date: Thursday March 19, 2026
- Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Location: Texarkana Workforce Center
- 1702 Hampton Rd, Texarkana TX 75503
- For more information: Toshiana.Hawkins@netxworks.org
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Manufacturing Job Fair
- Date: Tuesday April 7, 2026
- Time: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
- Location: Northeast Texas Community College - Industrial Technology Training Center
- 1100 Lakewood Dr, Mt Pleasant, TX 75455
- For more information: Virginia.Pryor@netxworks.org
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