Central Texas leaders back plan to boost construction, transportation workforce

“We’re working to change the city’s economic development paradigm to be relentlessly and unapologetically focused on ensuring home-grown talent can fill the thousands of good jobs being created in our community,” Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said in a statement.

Members of the Mobility and Infrastructure Leadership Group include Watson, Travis County Judge Andy Brown, other city and county officials, local labor and education leaders, and construction industry representatives. Capital Metro, the Austin Transit Partnership and the jobs group Workforce Solutions Capital Area are supporting the initiative.

“With the unprecedented infrastructure investment we are seeing, it is crucial for those with legislative influence to be thinking of and planning for creative solutions to address Austin’s affordability challenges with new means of economic development,” Workforce Solutions President and CEO Tamara Atkinson said.

What’s next

In a news release, the leadership group said one of its first projects will be the creation of a 20-year forecast of the Central Texas region’s workforce in mobility and related industries. That project, covering topics such as worker preparedness and the area's capacity for job training, will be taken on by Austin-based consulting firm CivicSol.

“Our region’s past and future growth is dependent upon those who live and work here. Through this comprehensive study, we can better understand the people who make up our workforce and how we can support them to reap opportunities to develop their careers and build generational wealth in the mobility and infrastructure industry," said Laura Huffman, CivicSol's founder and CEO and the former head of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce.

Following the group’s first meeting in early August, members will work with CivicSol, CapMetro, the ATP and Workforce Solutions to present some initial findings later this fall.

“Travis County is looking at a unique opportunity to build sustainable career pathways that will engage diverse candidates and allow people who live here to thrive here,” Brown said in a statement. “Growth in our region presents a challenge, but we’re looking at investments in transportation with a 20-year lens to help us prioritize an affordable and equitable community for everyone.”