In 2021, the Pearland Economic Development Corporation held a workforce strategy summit where they presented data showing that roughly 38,000 people commute daily from Pearland to other cities for work. Meanwhile, only 20,000 people commute into Pearland for work.
“Pearland has always been focused on workforce strategies, trainings and has a lot of good things going on, but that number kind of resonated with all of us,” said Jim Johnson, Pearland Chamber of Commerce president and CEO. “How can we showcase careers and job opportunities in Pearland so that our local people are living and working in Pearland?”
The chamber and corporation had already hosted successful in-person job fairs but wanted to tap into digital to reach even more people. In March, they launched Work in Pearland.
Work in Pearland is a comprehensive job board that connects employers and job seekers, showcasing open jobs in Pearland, regional training programs and workforce-supportive services. Since launch, 55 Pearland employers and 650 job seekers have joined the platform, which has posted 250 jobs, according to Johnson.
Work in Pearland is free for job seekers and employers who are chamber members or located in Pearland.
“We love the virtual booth concept,” Meador Staffing Services President Melinda Torrinson said before adding that what makes Work in Pearland stand out from other job-seeking platforms is how fun and interactive it is.
Torrinson said she’s received 10 applicants per week through Work in Pearland and expects the number to increase with time.
The platform’s virtual booth portal is categorized by industry, such as bioscience or construction, and allows job seekers to learn more about the company and ask questions through a chat messenger.
When job seekers register, they are taken to an interactive virtual job fair that not only connects job seekers with open listings but also has resources like tips for interviewing well and writing a good cover letter.
“It creates the whole experience of living and working in Pearland. It’s not just a recruiting board because you don’t get that on LinkedIn,” said Lawrence Rominger, vice president at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Compressor International. "It really has the ability to be a glue that can help tie this community together and make it better.”
The Mitsubishi plant opened its doors in 2015 and currently employs roughly 130 people. Since joining Work in Pearland, the company has posted roughly six job openings and made one hire, Rominger said.
The website serves the chamber’s mission to retain local talent as 80% of job seekers active on Work in Pearland are Pearland residents, according to Johnson.
For employers like Rominger who manages a manufacturing plant, having a workforce that can easily be in the office is a top priority, Rominger said.
Rominger said that while 30% of staff live in the local area, he would like to grow the plant to have over 70% of staff be residents from Pearland and the surrounding area.
Both Rominger and Johnson said they felt the time spent commuting is a big deterrent for people who currently work from home to come into the office, but felt working locally alleviates the commute times.
Assuming Pearland commuters spend 45 minutes one-way driving out of the city and only 15 minutes commuting within the city, Johnson estimated that residents can save 30 workdays per year by working in Pearland.
“The way that companies are hiring is shifting and changing,” Torrinson said. “Companies are really doing their part to find people.”
