Show Notes
What do lunch thieves, soft skills disasters, and a night-shift truck stop cook have to do with Texas' workforce future?
Join Tamara Atkinson, CEO of Workforce Solutions Capital Area, as she interviews Chairman Bryan Daniel of the Texas Workforce Commission in this revealing conversation about Texas's workforce landscape. Chairman Daniel brings extensive leadership experience from Governor Abbott's senior staff, where he led Economic Development and Tourism, and previous roles with President Bush's Rural Development team. With his diverse background spanning from night shift truck stop cooking to spearheading innovative workforce strategies, Daniel offers practical insights on establishing Texas's competitive edge as the best place to work in the world.
This comprehensive discussion covers ten critical workforce topics affecting Austin business leaders: middle skills jobs representing 42% of Texas's 545,000 open positions, the debate over "middle" labeling and why it shouldn't change, and the soft skills crisis with real-world workplace examples. Daniel explains the difference between upskilling and reskilling, analyzes the root causes of Texas's talent gap, and identifies labor force participation rate as the key bellwether statistic for economic health. The conversation addresses supporting 16-24 year old workers, TWC's focus on rural communities and apprenticeships, and Daniel's ultimate vision for creating apprenticeship pipelines for all hard-to-fill positions across Texas industries.
Chairman Bryan Daniel serves as Chairman of the Texas Workforce Commission, promoting growth of Texas's world-class employers and talented workforce. A Texas Tech University Distinguished Alumnus with bachelor's and master's degrees, Daniel previously served four and half years on Governor Greg Abbott's senior staff leading the Office of Economic Development and Tourism. His extensive portfolio included the Texas Enterprise Fund, Events Trust Fund, Governor's University Research Initiative, and Texas Tourism Office. Daniel also served as Texas State Director for Rural Development under President George W. Bush and Chief Administrator for Trade and Business Development at the Texas Department of Agriculture, bringing valuable private sector marketing executive experience to workforce development.
In This Episode:
- (00:00) Chairman reveals his first jobs driving tractors and cooking at truck stops
- (07:06) Why 42% of Texas job openings are middle skills positions that employers can't fill
- (18:13) Soft skills crisis exposed through real workplace horror stories
- (28:48) Upskilling versus reskilling explained and why both are critical for Texas
- (38:49) Labor force participation rate reveals surprising workforce trends
- (39:18) Why 16 to 24-year-olds are abandoning traditional employment
- (44:00) Reality check for young workers entering today's job market
- (51:27) Chairman's unlimited budget vision for apprenticeships across all industries
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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:
Workforce Solutions Capital Area
Tamara Atkinson LinkedIn
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.
