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Texas State University’s Department of Occupational, Workforce, and Leadership Studies (OWLS), and the Greater San Marcos Partnership (GSMP) have partnered to study and identify the workforce training needs throughout Hays and Caldwell counties. The Workforce Skills Gap Study will provide direction in the development of training programs to fulfill the present and future needs of employers in industry sectors critical to the region’s continued economic growth.
“The insights and data we discover in this study will help identify the gaps between the job seeker’s skills and employer needs,” said Todd Sherron, assistant professor at Texas State University. “In the years to come, follow up studies will help track our region’s performance in closing the skills gap.”
Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area, the Texas Workforce Commission workforce development board serving Greater San Marcos, is among the array of community partners for which the Workforce Skills Gap Study aims to provide valuable data.
“The data that the Greater San Marcos Partnership and Texas State University OWLS Department produces from the workforce needs assessment helps inform and support our regional operations,” said Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area CEO Paul Fletcher. “This invaluable research enhances our ability to inspire, empower and connect the Hays and Caldwell county communities to customized business solutions and enriching workforce opportunities.”
As a collaborative effort, the study’s facilitators are inviting companies in key industry sectors, struggling to fill positions, to participate in the study. Manufacturing, healthcare/life sciences, hospitality/retail, and distribution/logistics are the industry sectors which will be the focus for the study. These sectors were targeted because they employ a high percentage of the region’s workforce or due to the high growth potential that they represent.
“GSMP is known for recruiting new employers to the region such as the Amazon Fulfillment Center,” said Adriana Cruz, president of the Greater San Marcos Partnership. “However, our initiatives in workforce development are equally important. We’re working with our partners to ensure that our residents have the required skills for the jobs we are trying to recruit, as well as for the jobs provided by our existing and expanding employers located here in the heart of the Texas Innovation Corridor.”
The Workforce Skills Gap Study is currently underway; the analysis is expected to be completed by July and will be shared with the public at that time. Companies in Hays and Caldwell counties that are interested in participating in the study are encouraged to contact Christian Duran, manager of Existing Business & Workforce Development at [email protected].
