E-News: January/February 2019

Join us for the Lockhart One Stop Center Ribbon Cutting Ceremony 

Please join us for a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, March 8, at 10:30 a.m., to celebrate the grand opening of our new Workforce Solutions of Caldwell County One Stop Center in Lockhart. Tour the new center and meet with the team providing Caldwell County employers and job seekers access to local workforce solutions and statewide services all from one location. Address: 1711 S. Colorado Street, Unit G, Lockhart, TX 78644.

WSRCA COO Al Lopez Provides Workforce Insights as Part of KLRU-TV/Decibel Roundtable Discussion on Aging  WSRCA COO Al Lopez joined a roundtable discussion on Aging in Central Texas that was hosted by KLRU-TV/Decibel, and provided insights into workforce solutions and services our team offers for our Rural Capital Area area employers and community members of all ages, including mobile training units. The panel was led by award-winning journalist Judy Maggio, and participants included Teresa Sansone Fergusen of AustinUP, A. Pamela Saez with Back to Work 50+ at Austin Community College, and Jon Weizenbaum with the AARP Texas Executive Council. Watch the full roundtable discussion on our YouTube Channel.

Decibel News Crew Visits Round Rock One Stop Center to Profile Rural Capital Area Customer's Career Transition from Cosmetology into Nursing KLRU-TV/Decibel host Judy Maggio and her crew visited our WSRCA One Stop Center in Round Rock to profile Tracy Clark, a Rural Capital Area customer who utilized our services to transition her career from cosmetology into nursing, thanks to help from our team. Decibel showcased Tracy's workforce journey as part of their Aging in Austin special. A growing number of workers are changing careers in their 50s and 60s, but as Tracy shared, training and learning don't have an age limit. Tracy explained that our talent development team connected her with training programs and support that helped turn her dream of being a nurse into a reality. Watch the video profile on our YouTube Channel.

WSRCA Helps Celebrate Workforce Day in Austin

WSRCA CEO Paul Fletcher joined the Texas Workforce Commission and fellow Texas Workforce Solutions Board leaders from across the state, on Workforce Day in Austin, which was held on February 12. The group took part in a Legislative Issues Panel Discussion hosted by the Texas Association of Business and the Texas Association of Workforce Boards, and met with state legislators at the capitol.

ACC Enrolling Now for HVAC Training in the Rural Capital Area; 100% of Tuition May Be Covered by WSRCA The Austin Community College (ACC) Continuing Education program is offering Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) training in the Rural Capital Area of Texas, to meet the high demand of area employers. The hands-on training has been specifically designed to deliver the skills you need in a short period of time, so you can enter this high growth occupation quickly. For enrollment in Williamson County, please contact ACC's Luis Castillo at 512-223-7525. In Hays or Caldwell counties, please call ACC's Leo Bello or Sonia Castillo at 512-223-7542. To see if you qualify for tuition assistance through WSRCA, contact Robert Trevino in Caldwell County at 512-398-3491 ext. 3114, or Melissa Gutierrez in Hays County at 512-392-1291 ext. 3016.

WSRCA Connects with Students at Georgetown ISD Youth Career Fair

Your WSRCA team took part in the 4th Annual Georgetown ISD Youth Career & Job fair, held at East View High School. The event was co-sponsored by WSRCA, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and the Georgetown Independent School District. We helped connect students with local employers for summer employment, internships and post-graduation jobs and careers. Approximately 400 students attended the hiring event from Georgetown High School and East View High School, which included a workshop on interviewing and job search skills. Many thanks to all of the employers who attended the career fair.

Staffing Challenges? WSRCA Business Services Can Help

We understand that the success of your business is largely dependent on the ability to find qualified candidates to fill your staffing needs. Yet, the task of finding and maintaining employees with the right skills, training and education can be daunting. That's where we come in. Our WSRCA Business Services team assists employers like you at every stage of your workforce needs:

• Recruiting, interviewing & hiring
• Job Fairs
• Job postings
• Customized skill training
• Labor market info
• Layoff assistance

Visit our website to view our locations.

Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area Team Tours Amazon's San Marcos Fulfillment Center Your WSRCA team met Danbo, the Box Robot, while touring Amazon's massive Fulfillment Center in San Marcos, with the Greater San Marcos Partnership. The facility has the capacity for 3,500 employees, 14,000 robots and can process over a million packages in 24 hours.

Looking for help to pay for child care expenses?

Through federal, state and local funding, WSRCA Child Care Services is able to provide financial aid for eligible families and provide professional development opportunities. The Texas Rising Star child care providers that partner with us, voluntarily meet requirements that exceed the state’s minimum licensing standards. Your child deserves the best. Visit our website to get started today.

Team from Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area Takes Part in 87th U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington WSRCA CEO Paul Fletcher took part in the 87th United States Conference of Mayors, to help advance workforce, innovation and inclusion opportunities in the Rural Capital Area of central Texas, as well as the nation. The group heard from many leaders including America's 47th Vice President, Joe Biden, on the significance of local governments, and U.S. Department of Education Secretary, Betsy DeVos, on the importance of expanding our thinking of education, and considering all opportunities that lead to career pathways.

Connect with Veterans Services to Enhance Your Opportunities

Veterans, you've served your country – now let Texas serve you! Whether you want to know more about transitioning into a civilian career, job search assistance, college resources or other veterans' training benefits, our Veterans Services Coordinators are here to help. Visit our website to learn more.

Rural Capital Area Employment Growth Continues in December

The WSRCA economy capped off another great year of positive employment growth in 2018, with more than 1,000 jobs added for the month of December. Figures released by the Texas Workforce Commission show the unemployment rate for the WSRCA was 2.9 percent in December, up slightly from 2.8 percent in November. The 2.9 percent unemployment rate represented 15,574 residents seeking employment.

The workforce area’s unemployment rate remained below both the Texas (3.6 percent) and national (3.7 percent) rates. WSRCA collectively added 1,057 jobs in December 2018. The region’s 3.4 percent annual growth rate represented the addition of 16,928 jobs since December 2017.