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Strengthening the Talent Pipeline

The Greater Houston Partnership established UpSkill Houston to bring employers together and strategically expand the talent pipeline for the high-demand careers in the industry sectors considered the drivers of the region’s economy.

Investing in Talent for Tomorrow

We have built relationships across industries; we’re getting the skilled employees we need; and we’re changing the trajectory of people’s lives. When a family can move from a $30,000-a-year job to an $80,000- or $90,000-a-year career…children have the opportunity to have a better life.

46%

of employers can't fill vital jobs

The Challenge

The Greater Houston Partnership heard a consistent refrain from employers about the need for qualified and skilled workers in occupations that generally require more than a high school diploma but less than a four-year college degree. Nationally, 46% of employers report difficulty filling jobs vital to economic stability and growth.

Analysis of labor market information and data, along with benchmarking of effective practices, led the business community to the conclusion that this was a regional challenge that cuts across multiple employers and requires a collective response by the business community. To remain competitive, businesses need a strong pipeline of skilled talent.

The Solution

The Greater Houston Partnership, relying on employer leadership, established UpSkill Houston, an industry-led collaboration working with education and community stakeholders to strategically expand the talent pipeline and attract talent to high-demand careers in the industry sectors considered the drivers of the region’s economy.

The U.S. Chamber Foundation’s Talent Pipeline Management® (TPM) approach provided a framework, context, and sequence for the work that needed to be done to build this collaboration.

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