According to the National Skills Coalition, the State of Texas currently has a 14% jobs gap. Middle-skill jobs, which require education beyond high school but not a four-year degree, make up the largest part of America’s and Texas’ labor market. Key industries in Texas are unable to find enough sufficiently trained workers to fill these jobs. Despite the employment disruption brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, these and other technical, industrialized skills will remain a requirement to supply the Texas workforce needs.
The Booker T. Washington Initiative (BTWI) is committed to closing the middle-skills job gap by promoting collaboratives between entities within the Texas Education Agency, Texas Workforce Commission and the Texas Higher Education Board. BTWI is currently organizing workforce development and education coalitions in key targeted cities across the State of Texas.
Our strategic plan to develop a cadre of skilled workers includes launching an Industry Cluster Innovative Academy (ICIA) pilot program in Port Arthur and Midland Texas. The expansion of ICIA’s, innovative charter school initiatives and private Christian Academies in key Cities such as Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Beaumont/Port Arthur, Austin, Galveston, Fort Worth and Waco are critical objectives to achieving the goal of increasing employability among Texas youth and young adults.
In Texas, Black unemployment remains significantly high. Unemployment serves as a precursor to poverty. Impoverished conditions create an environment which fosters crime, poor mental and physical health, while destroying the family unit. BTWI is building bridges by developing coalitions to find innovative solutions, strengthen businesses and create jobs. our goal is to establish clear and sustainable pathways from poverty to prosperity.