The Buzz is a monthly newsletter from Workforce Solutions - Employer Service Division and is issued to provide local labor market information that is timely and meaningful to our partners in the Gulf Coast Region.

July 2015

Understanding LMI

In order to help individuals realize their occupational aspirations and advance their careers, help employers access an array of talent according to their needs, or help yourself make informed decisions on growing opportunities or spending costs, an awareness and understanding of the labor market is vital.

The Labor Market

The Labor Market 150 index puts Houston at the top once again! No surprise there, but at the top for what?

#2 At creating more new jobs above living wage than any other metro area!
Click here to view the Top 10

The growth in our region is driven in great part by oil and gas pipeline construction, petroleum refineries, and manufacturing plants. The Labor Market 150 Index comes from data generated by Employer Service market analysts.

Understanding your region's workforce and industry strengths helps you better understand what makes your region competitive, and prepares you to better serve your job seeking customers.

Growing Jobs

Houston is expected to add more than 100,000 middle-skills jobs by 2017, with 40% paying $20 per hour or more.
What jobs are middle skills?

Middle skills jobs require more than a high school
education but less than a bachelor's degree. For
example:

• Associate's Degree
• Postsecondary Certificate
• Apprenticeship
• On-the-Job Training, and/or other training...

"Middle skills jobs" encompass a variety of occupations that include, but are not limited to:

• Machinists
• Electricians
• Plumbers
• Healthcare Workers
• Police Officers
• Clerical Workers

Know your resources!

Many young people fail in the management of their first consumer credit experience, establish bad financial habits, and stumble through life learning trial and error.

Only 20% of high school seniors graduate with any formal instructions in personal finance.

MoneyLIVE  is a program designed for high school through college age youth to  educate them  on  building  money  management  skills.  It  gives
students an opportunity to learn about careers, making real life decisions based on their career choice, and other financial decision-making tools to
create financial independence. Help your customer avoid  a financial pitfall!
Visit MoneyLIVE website

Workforce Solutions partners with Lone Star College and works with companies to provide customized education and training, often utilizing the Skills Development Fund, Texas' premier workforce development incentive.

How does it work?
Click here to learn more
Contact your local Workforce Solutions Business Consultant for more information.

Do You Know Your Workforce?

Who should we target? What other occupations have similar skill sets that transfer into this field? Where are those prospective candidates located?

Single pieces of information can only tell you so much, combined however, can be helpful when marketing Workforce Solutions services to employers and job seekers such as; job postings, recruitment and placement of candidates in the right position, facilitating a training course, overseeing a hiring event, and more!

Labor market variables you should be familiar with

Use a well written job description to draw in qualified candidates. Click Here.

References:
https://www.southwest.com/, http://www.chron.com/, http://www.xerox.com/. http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/, http://www.workintexas.com, http://www.twc.state.tx.us/, https://www.mhicompressor.com/en/