[PRESS RELEASE] - The tech industry in the state of Texas is booming, with a growing demand for skilled workers in Cloud/IT support, software development and data analytics. According to LinkedIn, there are over 8,000 tech jobs currently unfilled in the state of Texas. To address this talent gap, AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance is expanding into Texas with support from key collaborators across industry, education and government with the goal of helping to modernize tech programs of study at higher education institutions, connecting learners to in-demand tech jobs and supporting the development of a highly-skilled tech workforce in the Lone Star State. "As the pace of technological change advances in every market, the need for a globally diverse, digitally skilled pipeline has never been more important. The expansion of the AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance into Texas further demonstrates our commitment to bring together government, education, industry and nonprofits to address this critical need and enable future economic growth," said Valerie Singer, AWS Global Education Lead. The initial launch of the Tech Alliance in Texas focuses on the Houston and Dallas metropolitan areas. These two major hubs are home to a diverse array of employers seeking tech talent and a robust system of educational institutions ready to prepare the next generation of Cloud and IT professionals. This launch represents a critical step in addressing the talent gap in the state's tech industry. Four of the state's higher education institutions have come together as part of the region's initial launch: Texas State University Houston Community College Dallas College Kilgore College Several of the state's most innovative companies will collaborate with AWS to identify talent needs, provide real-world learning experiences for students and hire qualified candidates into tech roles. These employers include Brooksource Corestack DLZP Group JP Morgan Chase Tanches Global Management TEKsystems "JP Morgan Chase has been deeply ingrained in the Texas community for more than a century and a half, tracing its origins back to the First National Bank of Houston," said Stacey Laurent, Vice President and Lead Technical Program Manager for JP Morgan Chase. "We prioritize investing in our community's individuals. As proud members of the AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance, we eagerly anticipate contributing to the worldwide movement that revitalizes tech education and fosters a diverse, skilled pool of talent, enriching the landscape of Texas. Diversity stands as a cornerstone of our values at JP Morgan Chase; it is essential for fostering innovation and progress." Recently, Texas has been recognized for its innovative approach to aligning education policy to its economic goals. Central to these policies is the push to ensure post-secondary programming leads to high quality career pathways for Texans. This alignment of education, workforce and economic development goals fits perfectly with the goals of the Tech Alliance and provides a unique partnership opportunity with the state. To ensure that the program continues to amplify the state's priorities, AWS will work closely with the Texas Workforce Commission and the Texas Economic Development Corporation. AWS has a long history of collaborating with organizations in Texas to advance workforce development and skills attainment initiatives. Participation in the Greater Houston Partnership's UpSkill Houston Executive Committee and the Dallas Regional Chamber's Board of Directors has helped position AWS as a regional voice in workforce and economic development. These organizations, along with Alcantar Strategies, will partner with AWS to leverage their extensive networks and community connections to promote Tech Alliance programs and connect learners to opportunities. Through its employer-led UpSkill Houston initiative, the Greater Houston Partnership has invested heavily in advancing the skills and opportunities for Houstonians, ensuring employers have the skilled talent they need to grow and compete," said Peter Beard, Senior Vice President of Regional Workforce Development for the Greater Houston Partnership. "Collaborating with AWS as a member of the AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance will amplify the work we are already accomplishing in Houston and advance the alignment of our talent pipelines to in-demand technology jobs in all industries." "The Dallas Regional Chamber is focused on improving the education, talent and workforce pipeline to support a high-quality life for all people in the Dallas Region," said Elizabeth Caudill McClain, Senior Vice President of Talent Strategies at the Dallas Regional Chamber. "The launch of the AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance poses an exciting opportunity for business leaders across Texas to join together to address the skills gap for high-demand IT jobs while also supporting the economic mobility of Texans - a win-win for the future of our companies and communities." AWS launched the Tech Alliance in June 2023 at the DC Public Sector Summit, bringing together a global coalition of higher education institutions, employers, government and collaborating organizations to address the tech skills gap. The Tech Alliance is currently represented in nine countries (USA, Egypt, Spain, Singapore, Italy, Germany, India, Colombia and Brazil), with four other US states engaged (New York, Illinois, Washington and West Virginia). Since its global launch, the Tech Alliance has connected more than 23,000 learners from over 900 higher education institutions with over 350 employers. To learn more or get involved, please visit the AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance homepage.

A Letter from Peter Beard, Sr. Vice President, Regional Workforce:  Over the last 10 years, I have had the privilege to lead the Greater Houston Partnership’s (the Partnership) UpSkill Houston initiative and work with the region’s business, education and community leaders in building strong talent pipelines to support Houston’s key industry sectors. Five years ago, we partnered with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and identified a strategic focus of moving to skills-based hiring and education. As our region recovers from the pandemic and continues to experience economic growth, we have a unique opportunity to unite and ensure that skills-based practices enhance economic mobility and prosperity for our residents.    We have several key ingredients essential for adopting and implementing skills-based practices. Our collaboration with the Burning Glass Institute (BGI) has resulted in employer-developed skills matrices focusing on "work-ready" skills—those needed for success from day one. This initiative has also identified skills that can be developed on the job or through continued education while working. Additionally, the Greater Houston Apprentice Network, powered by Accenture and Aon, is helping employers build skills-based talent pipelines through apprenticeships. Recently, Accenture achieved its goal of hiring 20% of its entry-level professional workforce through this apprenticeship pipeline. Furthermore, outstanding programs like GenesysWorks and Capital IDEA are preparing individuals to be "work-ready" for the high-quality jobs in Houston’s regional economy.   While these key ingredients are essential, they are not yet sufficient to meet employers' demand for skilled talent or to establish Greater Houston as a “skills-first region.” Achieving this goal requires strong leadership and a shift in mindset to adopt and implement skills-based practices, especially as the workplace undergoes rapid digital transformation with new technologies such as automation, cloud applications, and artificial intelligence. Effective leadership is crucial to drive the significant changes needed to prioritize “work-ready” skills by:   Rethinking entry-level job and hiring requirements.   Clearly communicating “work-ready” skills and proficiency levels.   Innovating educational approaches to adapt curricula that develop “work-ready” skills.   Committing to hiring based on skills and experience.   Driving this change requires new mindsets across the region’s business, industry, education and community sectors. We need to cultivate agility in our key systems and processes to adapt to the accelerating digital disruption by:   Encouraging leaders to move beyond traditional approaches to hiring and education.   Providing support to front-line managers taking risks to hire work-ready entry-level talent that may need further skills development.   Providing ongoing professional development to support growth into new roles.   Imagine a Houston where individuals graduate from K-12 schools, community colleges, or universities with the "work-ready" skills needed to succeed in the workplace. Envision a region where employers prioritize these skills over traditional credentials, offering opportunities for further development through on-the-job training or additional education while working. As digital disruption accelerates, the demand for on-the-job skills development will only grow, making this vision increasingly essential.  Join us in making Greater Houston a skills-first region. Together, we can build a thriving economy and create opportunities for all residents to succeed. Get involved with UpSkill Houston and help lead the way towards a more prosperous future.