From the CEO's Desk:
Happy Labor Day! It is an exciting time to be in workforce development.
There are lots of great events happening with our partners to promote the many great employment and upskilling opportunities available across our region.
It has been a busy summer, and the fall is shaping up to continue that increased activity.
Please reach out if we can help with talent needs or if you are looking to return to the workforce.
- Paul Fletcher
Chief Executive Officer
Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area (WSRCA)
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The Greater Austin Restaurant Association in conjunction with Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area cordially invite you to the Restaurant Recruitment Leadership Summit on September 7, at 2 p.m., which will be held virtually.
A group of industry leaders from both large and small will discuss the future of workforce in the hospitality industry.
Areas of discussion include:
- Area Workforce Data
- Recruitment/Retention Messaging to Millennials & Gen Z
- Intergenerational Communications
- Restaurant Recovery Initiative
- Diversity & Inclusion
- Operator Panel Discussions
Employers, if you are interested in attending this valuable workshop, please register:
 Click to Download an Event Flyer
Your WSRCA team was excited to welcome Commissioner Representing Employers, Aaron Demerson, with the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) and the Texas Conference for Employers to Georgetown, to help share updated information about state and federal employment laws, the unemployment claim and appeal process, and how the Workforce Solutions Team can empower their businesses.
Our partners at TWC assembled their best speakers to guide Texas employers through employment concerns amid the pandemic and to answer questions they had regarding their businesses.
WSRCA Board Chair, Frank Leonardis, and CEO, Paul Fletcher, delivered the keynote remarks to welcome the conference participants.
During the event, Randstad USA, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, and Honor Veterans Now's Meals for Vets program were recognized by TWC and the Texas Veterans Commission as “We Hire Vets” employers, for maintaining a workforce comprised of more than 10% military veterans. Thank you for empowering heroes throughout the Rural Capital Area.
We're proud of our collaborative mission to deliver customized workforce solutions to empower Rural Capital Area employers.
Ready to grow your operations? Connect with our Business Services Team: businessservices@ruralcapital.net
Your WSRCA team joined with business leaders from San Marcos for a roundtable discussion with U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, Texas District 21, at the City of San Marcos Conference Center hosted by the San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce.
We're proud to join with our industry and community partners to identify solutions for industry challenges amid the pandemic and explore new opportunities to enhance workforce participation throughout the Central Texas region.
Many thanks to Congressman Chip Roy for guiding our discussions, to the Chamber for hosting the event, and to everyone who took part to enhance our communities.
Together, we're building a world-class workforce for Texas.
The WSRCA team is honored to have taken part in the Round Rock Chamber's Power Lunch, which featured Sen. Charles Schwertner, Texas Senate, District 5, who provided an update on the 87th Texas Legislative Session.
We're grateful for the opportunity to meet with elected officials and support our Chambers.
Many thanks to our Board member, Round Rock Mayor Pro-Tem, Rene Flores, Chamber President and CEO, Jason Ball, and everyone who participated in this great community event.
Your WSRCA team is proud to have taken part in the 35th Annual San Marcos Chamber Business EXPO, which was held at the City of San Marcos Conference Center.
The EXPO is one of the premier networking events in Central Texas, and provided a great opportunity for organizations to reach key business contacts all under one roof.
Many thanks to the San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce and the exhibitors and attendees who helped make this year's event even more special.
All WSRCA career centers are open to the public for services across the nine-county region. Services can be provided in person (with or without an appointment), may still be scheduled online for an in-person, or curbside appointment, or may be provided virtually to meet your immediate workforce needs.
We continue to offer all career workshops and workforce orientations in a hybrid manner (virtually and in-person), and can make arrangements for residents who need access to a computer to participate in a virtual session.
Face coverings are no longer required to enter our offices, but we encourage all customers and staff to continue to cover their faces while in public areas or close proximity to others.
Looking to schedule an appointment to visit? Utilize the calendars on the WSRCA website.
Your WSRCA team continues to innovate its service offerings to offer world-class workforce solutions for Central Texans and has launched a new informative video series called “Tuesday Talks” to create more value for customers on the digital platforms they use most.
The Tuesday Talks video segments are posted weekly and aim to provide more insights on high-demand career training opportunities, initiatives, workshops, and programs, and will spotlight community partners, customer testimonials, and WSRCA events, all geared towards delivering customized workforce solutions for Central Texans.
Latest Episodes:
- Episode 1: WSRCA 101
- Episode 2: What is LMI?
- Episode 3: Career Lattices
- Episode 4: Job Search Tips
- Episode 5: Job Search Strategies
- Episode 6: Job Search Bad Habits
WSRCA has launched a Rural Healthcare Initiative (RHI) partnership to increase the supply of healthcare professionals in Blanco, Burnet, Llano, and Lampasas counties over the next four years.
The RHI program brings together local training providers and healthcare employers to train unemployed, underemployed, and incumbent workers for jobs focusing on direct patient care in the healthcare industry in targeted areas of Central Texas.
Ready to jumpstart your healthcare career, train locally for sustainable jobs with Central Texas Employers, and serve your community? You are essential and our community needs you - Connect with an RHI Program Specialist today: 1-844-344-2780
WSRCA was awarded a Pursuit of Advanced Training in High-Demand Skills (PATHS) grant funded through the Walmart Foundation. PATHS For Texas is a statewide initiative to provide industry and nationally recognized training and upskill opportunities to improve employee retention, to support career advancement, and to promote success for workers and job seekers in customer facing industries.
Businesses and individuals within our nine-county region can benefit from PATHS.
Specific and individualized training options are available that offer certifications and degrees and are offered by industry recognized providers. Classes are online and self-paced. All at No Cost to You!
Get details about how to provide your employees with training opportunities:
WSRCA is proud to expand its no-cost career training opportunities for Central Texans with the launch of Skillup Rural Capital.
Skillup Rural Capital offers free access to workplace, business, and IT courses, as well as offering Texans the ability to explore career pathways in over 200 occupations.
Whether you are looking to increase your skills, change industries/find a new career, or gain better employment in a high-demand industry, SkillUp Rural Capital offers resources to deliver solutions, including access to local job postings and workforce services through WSRCA.
Employers, if you are having trouble finding qualified candidates, or looking to update your employees' skills, Skillup Rural Capital can help facilitate candidate matching, and connect you with WSRCA business specialists to design customized hiring and training solutions to boost your operations.
When combined with our Skill-Based Career Progression Lattices, Daily Virtual Career Training Workshops, LinkedIn Learning, the 5-Minute Countdown Series, and Metrix Learning through our partners at the Texas Workforce Commission, Central Texans have immediate access to more than 20,000 free online career courses available to enhance their workforce journey.
Join us online every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for our Workforce Wednesdays Virtual Career Expo Hiring Experience. Register today to virtually connect with hiring recruiters hosting interactive booths from dozens of local companies. Explore their exciting career, apprenticeship and internship opportunities in the Rural Capital Area, chat with employers, and take part in free virtual career-enhancement workshops right from your own computer, or mobile device. All job seekers welcome.
Job Seeker Registration: http://bit.ly/workforcewednesdaysexpo
Employer Registration: http://bit.ly/workforcewednesdaysemployer
If you're not hiring employees with disabilities, you're limiting your reach! Recruiting talented workers of all abilities and experiences can have a positive impact on your bottom line. Our partners at Texas Workforce Solutions-Vocational Rehabilitation Services can help you get started.
All you need to remove barriers that limit hiring and accommodating an employee with a disability is an innovative spirit. Visit our website to learn more.
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 Candidates of All Abilities
- Virtual Job Fairs
- Job Postings on WorkInTexas.com
- Employer Spotlights on Jobs Now
- Customized Skills Training
- Labor Market Information
- Layoff Assistance
Visit www.workforcesolutionsrca.com to learn more, or email businessservices@ruralcapital.net
Central Texas Employers are Hiring! As part of our continuing efforts to help connect skilled Texans with great Texas employers, WSRCA has launched a new Jobs Now video feature to spotlight local businesses within the nine-county region, to help them showcase their open positions and the skills they are hiring for.
Latest Employer Spotlights:
- Brake Check
- Texas State Dining by Chartwells
- Stealth Products
- Giddings State School
- Athena Manufacturing
- AlgEternal Technologies, LLC
- MY TEAM Home & Commercial Services
- Earth Burger
- Cargill
- Texas One Stop in La Grange
If you're a Rural Capital Area employer who would like to have your business showcased in the Jobs Now spotlight, and your available positions shared with job seeking Texans, please email our Business Services Team at businessservices@ruralcapital.net
Through federal, state and local funding, our Child Care Services (CCS) team is able to provide financial aid for eligible families and connect them to professional development opportunities. The Texas Rising Star child care providers that partner with us, voluntarily meet requirements that exceed the state’s minimum Child Care Licensing standards. Your child deserves the best. Visit www.workforcesolutionsrca.com to learn more about the CCS program.
In order to address the impacts of COVID-19 and to support Texas’ continued economic recovery, our partners at TWC approved funding to support a new program called Service Industry Recovery (SIR) child care, to help workers in TWC-specified service industries:
While TWC is targeting aspects of the service sector with SIR child care, all families continue to have access to WSRCA's regular income-based child care scholarship program.
Review program qualifications and apply now:
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, educational resources such as the College Credit for Heroes program, or other veterans' training benefits, our Veterans Services Coordinators are here to help. Visit www.workforcesolutionsrca.com for more on our priority services for veterans.
The 10th Annual Hiring Red, White & You! (HRWY) Statewide Veterans Hiring Event is being held in-person and online on November 4, in the Rural Capital Area, to enhance career opportunities for veterans, transitioning military, and their spouses.
The statewide Hiring Red, White & You! hiring event connects Texas veterans and their spouses with Texas
Virtual Hiring Fair
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Round Rock In-Person Event
Time:
9 a.m. – 11 a.m. (Early Admission for Transitioning Service Members, Veterans and Spouses)
11 a.m. - 1 p.m. (Open to the Public)
Location:
Round Rock Sports Center
2400 Chisholm Trail
Round Rock, TX 78681
San Marcos In-Person Event
Time:
9 a.m. – 11 a.m. (Early Admission for Transitioning Service Members, Veterans and Spouses)
11 a.m. - 1 p.m. (Open to the Public)
Location:
Maurice T. Suttles VFW Post 3413
1701 Hunter Road
San Marcos, TX 78666
The American Legion is working with the Texas Veterans Commission and Texas Workforce Commission for a hybrid (in person and virtual) career fair on Sept. 22. The event will be open to all veterans, transitioning servicemembers, active duty, National Guard, reservists, and military spouses.
The in-person portion will take place at the Omni Austin Hotel, 4140 Governors Row, Ballroom D, Austin, TX 78744 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. CDT.
- Job seekers can register to attend in person by clicking here.
- Employers can register to attend in person by clicking here.
The virtual component, which will include local, national and worldwide employers, will be open from noon to 3 p.m. CDT to all veterans, transitioning servicemembers, active duty, National Guard, reservists, and military spouses.
Unsure where your career is headed? Looking to understand how our local industries are rebounding from the pandemic? Utilize our Rural Capital Headlight Tool to review:
- Economic Overviews by County
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Wages/Income
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Employment trends
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Occupation snapshots
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Industry Clusters
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Education Levels
It’s where to go, to be in the know: http://ruralcapitalheadlight.com
The labor market recovery in the Rural Capital Area of Central Texas picked up momentum in July 2021, with the unadjusted unemployment rate sliding down to 4.3 percent, after a slight increase to 4.9 percent in June, according to figures released today by the Texas Workforce Commission. The local economy added 9,191 jobs from June to July, with employment rising by 36,911 year-to-year. The 4.3 percent unemployment rate in the nine-county Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area represented 25,279 residents seeking jobs. The region’s unemployment rate remained below Texas’ (6.0 percent) and the national (5.7 percent) rates, which both saw drops in July as well.
All counties within the Rural Capital Area region saw their unemployment rates decline in July.
See the full release and additional July 2021 labor market data for each county:
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