Show Notes
“Make a Living, Making Austin.” That’s the promise behind the new Austin Infrastructure Academy—and it’s answering a big question: How do we connect local talent to the 10,000+ jobs being created each year in one of our region’s fastest-growing sectors?
In another special mini-episode, host Tamara Atkinson explores the untapped potential of this dynamic sector at the inaugural launch of Austin's Infrastructure Academy. On March 26, 2025, Workforce Solutions Capital Area hosted the Austin Infrastructure Academy Launch Event & Job Fair. Supported by Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, Travis County Judge Andy Brown and numerous community partners, the event offered a one-stop-shop for Austinites to explore careers in mobility and infrastructure (M+I), evaluate their career readiness, and connect to next steps to start their journeys either directly into employment or skills training.
M+I is the second largest industry sector in our region, adding 10,000 quality job opportunities for Austinites each year to work on projects like the Airport Expansion, Project Connect, IH-35 and more. The Austin Infrastructure Academy is a new marketplace that provides customized navigation to help local talent either begin their career journeys or upskill and grow in their current M+I roles.
Join Tamara as she speaks with a career seeker, employer partner, and labor union partner to learn about their motivation to attend the official Austin Infrastructure Academy launch, their experience growing their networks; and advice for anyone in Austin thinking about a career in M+I.
In This Episode:
- (00:00) Introduction to Austin's Infrastructure Academy launch event
- (01:20) Errin Evans discusses career seeking in mobility and infrastructure
- (04:05) RJ Endsley shares Halff's involvement in the local mobility and infrastructure sector partnership
- (06:47) Matthew Gonzales explains LIUNA's support for Austin’s mobility and infrastructure workforce
- (09:26) Closing remarks and information on getting involved
- Like and subscribe to hear all of our informative upcoming episodes!
About the show:
Austin Hires Local, powered by Workforce Solutions Capital Area and hosted by WFS CEO Tamara Atkinson, dives deep with the trailblazers who are shaping the future of jobs in our city, our state, and even nationally. We pull back the curtain on the challenges we all face – the anxieties, the roadblocks, and what's holding us back from filling those critical open positions. But hey, it's not all doom and gloom. We also celebrate the victories: the ingenious solutions, the unexpected collaborations, and the best practices that are making us all sharper. You’ll hear guests from all sides of the table – elected officials with a finger on the pulse of the economy, industry leaders from booming sectors like tech, healthcare, and skilled trades, and educators shaping young minds in our schools and post-secondary education programs. So, tune in and get ready to be informed, inspired, and maybe even surprised by the future of work in Austin.
Resources:
Austin Infrastructure Academy: https://wfsca.co/infrastructure-academy
Halff: https://halff.com/
Laborers' Local 1095: https://liuna1095.org/
Thank you to our sponsor: Texas Mutual
About Workforce Solutions Capital Area:
Workforce Solutions is the state-designated authority for the data-driven planning, oversight, and evaluation of workforce development activities in Austin-Travis County. They connect local people to the most in-demand industries with quality jobs. These specialized services are provided at no cost - including career training, apprenticeship programs, scholarships, job search assistance, child care assistance, tailored business solutions and more.
