Houston Republic

Though Houston is historically an area of strong economic fundamentals, there is a lack of 21st century skill to fit jobs that are becoming more and more modernized. To address this concern, Peter Beard, senior vice president of the Regional Workforce Development at the Greater Houston Partnership, has created and maintained the Upskill Houston program.

Upskill Houston is an employer-led initiative that is meant to help establish a robust pipeline of talent and skills into the local economy. With insight from industry professionals and a variety of industries, it is the hope of Peter Beard and the Upskill Houston program that the initiative can lead to a stronger workforce and rising wages. 

"Houston’s roughly $479 billion economy is driven by a range of industries, chief among them the energy, health care and manufacturing/logistics industries," Beard said. "Known as the “Energy Capital of the World,” Houston is home to virtually every segment of the energy industry. About one out of every eight workers in the metro area (or, about 376,000 people) is employed in health care. The value of goods generated by the region’s manufacturing industry, which encompasses fabricated metal products, machinery, chemicals, plastics and computer and electronic products among others, topped $84.8 billion in 2018. Manufacturing industry jobs total close to 234,200."

It's clear that the organization believes in the economic power of the area, but a key challenge has been providing the education and workers necessary to continue the momentum of local companies in rising industries. 

Beard acknowledged these challenges, saying, "The Partnership’s UpSkill Houston initiative has paid specific attention to disruptions to our economy and industries by increased digitalization and automation technologies and the skills workers will need to work alongside new and emerging technologies."

The Upskill Houston program has already been put to the test and has experienced great results. Beard believes this is because it is a program that takes the power out of the hands of the city government and instead provides employers with the opportunity to develop a workforce that works for their needs. This makes the process more streamlined and effective. In addition, the program has been able to include education providers and local schools. 

"It is important to note that UpSkill Houston’s strength comes from the collaborative efforts of its more than 200 partners and stakeholders," Beard said. "UpSkill Houston created a forum – a collective table – for leaders of industry, K-12 and higher education, community-based organizations, and public agencies to discuss their workforce issues, find common ground and share practices that work. Our education partners use insights from our industry partners to build curricula and training that fit industry requirements."

It's clear that the collaboration and teamwork put in by the city, education providers, and area businesses has created a partnership that is strong enough to affect change in the area economy for years to come. The Upskill Houston program has been such a large success that cities around the country have attempted to follow in the city's footsteps to replicate the success of the program. 

"There are probably two reasons for this blueprint," Beard explained. "First, our work utilizes the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Talent Pipeline Management framework and tools to ensure that employers lead this work. Second, the Greater Houston Partnership and UpSkill Houston rely on a fundamental belief that quality education creates a virtuous cycle of growth and opportunity."

Beard and his team are excited to see where the program leads and expect to be a leader in employer-led initiatives to mold the workforce for the modern era.