Workforce Development in Texas

Central Texas AGC President and CEO Grayson Huskey recently attended an important workforce development discussion at Texas State Technical College in Waco featuring Greg Abbott and Larry Fink, Chairman and CEO of BlackRock, focused on the future of workforce development, infrastructure investment, and economic growth in Texas.

The event brought together state leaders, industry professionals, workforce advocates, contractors, and education partners to discuss the growing demand for skilled workers and the importance of expanding career and technical education opportunities across the state.

A major announcement from the event was BlackRock’s $30 million investment through the Future Builders initiative, which aims to help train more than 12,000 Texans for electrical and skilled trade careers. The investment is part of a larger national effort focused on strengthening America’s skilled workforce as infrastructure, energy, and data center development continue to expand across the country.

Throughout the discussion, speakers emphasized that Texas’ continued economic success depends on developing and maintaining a strong skilled workforce capable of supporting the state’s rapid growth. Governor Abbott highlighted that Texas has invested more than $8 billion into career and technical education over the last two legislative sessions while continuing to lead the nation in job growth and economic development.

Additional conversations focused on the increasing demand for electricians, welders, and other skilled trade professionals as Texas continues to expand its infrastructure, transportation, manufacturing, energy, and construction sectors. Leaders also discussed the growing impact of large scale infrastructure projects, data center expansion, and population growth throughout Texas, all of which are driving additional workforce demand across the construction industry.

Industry leaders stressed the importance of apprenticeship programs and partnerships between employers, workforce organizations, and technical colleges. Several speakers shared how workforce training programs are creating life changing career opportunities for Texans while helping address critical labor shortages facing employers across the state.

The conversation also highlighted the importance of long term investments in power generation, transportation infrastructure, water systems, and housing development to support Texas’ continued growth. As more companies and projects continue moving to Texas, the demand for a highly trained construction workforce will only continue to increase.

Events like this reinforce the critical role that workforce development and technical education play in supporting the construction industry and strengthening Texas’ economy. Central Texas AGC appreciates the continued investment and focus being placed on developing the next generation of skilled construction professionals across our state.