For Houston’s business community, conversations about workforce development often focus on higher education, training programs, and upskilling. But increasingly, leaders are recognizing that the foundation of a strong workforce is built much earlier.
“You can’t think about economic competitiveness without understanding the role that education plays — the two are inextricably linked,” said Julie Sudduth, EVP and Regional President for PNC Bank and Chair of the Greater Houston Partnership’s Education Advisory Committee.
From a business perspective, the connection is clear: talent drives growth. And that talent pipeline doesn’t begin at graduation, it begins in the earliest years of a child’s development.
“The talent pipeline is everything,” Sudduth said. “As our businesses grow, we need skilled people ready to fill those roles — and that starts with education.”
Building the Talent Pipeline from the Start
Research shows that nearly 90% of brain development occurs before age five, underscoring how critical early learning is in shaping long-term outcomes. At the same time, only about half of Texas students are meeting grade-level expectations by third grade, highlighting the challenges that can emerge when that early foundation is not in place.
Supporting Today’s Workforce
Early childhood education also plays a critical role in supporting workforce participation today. Across Texas, two-thirds of young children have all parents in the workforce, making access to reliable, high-quality childcare essential for employees to remain engaged in their jobs. When those supports are unstable or unavailable, the impacts are felt across businesses and the broader economy, contributing to more than $9 billion in annual economic losses statewide due to childcare challenges.
“Early childhood education isn’t just about the future workforce, it enables today’s workforce,” Sudduth said. “If families don’t have access to affordable, quality childcare, they can’t fully participate in the workforce.”
For employers, this reality is showing up in real time — in hiring challenges, retention pressures, and the need to compete for talent in an evolving labor market.
How Employers Are Responding
Many employers are not just observing these challenges, they are investing in solutions.
“At PNC, we’ve committed $550 million to early childhood education over more than two decades because we know where we can make the most meaningful, long-term impact,” Sudduth said. “When we invest early, the return is significant, not just for children and families, but for the workforce and the broader economy.”
A Role for the Business Community
At the same time, business leaders have a unique and important role to play in strengthening the connection between education and workforce needs.
“You don’t have to be an expert to be part of the solution,” Sudduth said. “If you’re a business leader, you should care about your future workforce, that alone is reason to get involved.”
Looking Ahead for Houston
For Houston to remain competitive, the strength of our workforce must start with a strong foundation.
As part of its broader focus on long-term economic growth and education, the Greater Houston Partnership is elevating early childhood education as a key priority, bringing together business leaders, educators, and policymakers to better understand the challenges and identify opportunities to strengthen Houston’s future workforce.