Road to Employment: Texas First Lady and Texas Workforce Commissioner Representing Employers Collaborate to Help Transitioning Foster Youth
Texas Workforce Commission • March 3, 2020
Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott met with employers, community advocates and the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) at a foster youth transition center in Austin, Texas today to bring awareness for the needs and support of foster youth. Every person counts, especially kids in foster care, which is why the TWC provides funding and support services to 18 Foster Youth Transition centers across the state of Texas. These transition centers help foster youth ages 15 and a half to 25 overcome obstacles to employment opportunities. TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Aaron Demerson is touring each facility and has invited major employers to assist foster youth that are aging out of the system with employment career opportunities.
“For every child in our foster care system to live a life worthy of their promise, they need what I call a Network of Nurture—a community of families and friends, churches and congregations, business leaders and nonprofit organizations, and anyone willing to share of themselves,” said Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott. “For our youth in foster care nearing adulthood, they especially need our help in finding the right path to self-sufficiency and career success.”
According to Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, in Fiscal Year 2018, 17,500 youth resided in foster care in Texas. Of that number, on average 900 children in Texas age out of the system each year. TWC has funded multiple transition centers since 2008 in an effort to provide a central clearinghouse of one-stop services to serve the diverse needs of older foster youth aging out of the system, youth experiencing homelessness, or other at-risk youth from ages 15 and a half to 25.
“Today is great example of the community and businesses working together to provide career opportunities for transitioning foster youth in Texas,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Aaron Demerson. “I look forward to visiting with organizations, employers and workforce advocates at Foster Youth Transition centers throughout Texas to listen, learn and take action related to employment opportunities.
Transition centers are designed to serve as host locations for services such as Preparation for Adult Living (PAL) services, job readiness and job search assistance, career exploration, higher education enrollment assistance, food and housing assistance, and mentoring. Transition centers also provide colocation opportunities for local partners such as local Workforce Solutions staff, TWC-funded workforce advocates, and colleges and universities to help jointly serve the diverse needs of the youth in one location.
The 18 Transition centers are independently funded, operated, and supported by partnerships between DFPS, the DFPS providers, community partners and TWC. A list of TWC sponsored transition centers can be found at https://twc.texas.gov/foster-youth-transition-centers.
Workforce Solutions East Texas is pleased to announce the relocation of its workforce center to the Midtown Centre. The new Tyler workforce center location is now open to the public and operates at the Midtown Centre shopping center at 1421 S. Beckham Avenue. The business hours are Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Workforce Solutions East Texas is a community partnership providing no-cost recruitment and employment services to businesses and job seekers in the East Texas area. The chief elected officials in the region, the Workforce Solutions East Texas Board, and the board's administrative agency, the East Texas Council of Governments, elected to lease the 28,500-square-foot facility. The boards approved entering a seven-year lease term with three three-year extension options. “We’re excited to offer employers and prospective employees a tremendous facility. It allows ample space for recruitment of skilled workers, interviewing, training, enhancing respected skills, and receiving the resources necessary to become valued, long-term assets to the Tyler business community and the surrounding area. I believe employers will see this facility as a force multiplier to ongoing work in building their businesses. Employees will see this as a critical link between their hard work in preparation and the job in which they’ll excel. Together, we’ll set the stage for the next generation in Tyler’s economic development,” said Workforce Solutions East Texas’ Executive Director, Doug Shryock. “Please bear with us as we will be opening in phases, as upgrades to the facility are underway.” The previous Workforce Solutions East Texas—Tyler office at 4100 Troup Highway has closed to the public. What assistance can Job Seekers receive at a Workforce Solutions center? Job listings and referrals Resume assistance Veterans services Community resource information Child care information Copier, fax machine, telephone, and computer access Internet access Labor market information Career exploration and planning GED information & referral Job search workshops Occupational training information Access to Vocational Rehabilitation and other partners What assistance can Employers receive at a Workforce Solutions center? On-site recruiting Interviewing and hiring Job Fairs Internet-based job postings Assistance with customized skill training Wage and labor market information Employee layoff assistance Additional assistance is available to veterans, individuals with disabilities, and people who have been dislocated from a job. Details on workforce center locations and service hours can be viewed at www.easttexasworkforce.org/locations .
Texas added 40,100 nonfarm jobs in January to reach a total of 14,379,500 positions. Over the year, the state added 112,200 jobs for an annual nonfarm growth rate of 0.8 percent, outpacing the national growth rate by 0.6 percentage points. Texas’ civilian labor force registered at 15,955,200 after decreasing by 3,400 over the month. Over the year, Texas’ civilian labor force has added 152,000 people. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Texas remained stable at 4.3 percent. “Texas employers continue to spur our state’s economic momentum, adding more than 40,000 jobs across a wide range of major industries,” said TWC Chairman Joe Esparza. “TWC remains committed to supporting Texas’ pro-growth policies and world-class talent pipeline that make Texas the best place to do business.” The Construction industry had the largest private sector over-the-month increase in January after adding 11,800 jobs. Construction also posted an annual growth rate of 3.4 percent in January, which was the highest of any major industry. The Leisure and Hospitality industry and Private Education and Health Services industry each added 10,300 jobs over the month while Professional and Business Services added 10,200. “The growth we're seeing in sectors like Construction and Leisure and Hospitality is promising, but we need to ensure these jobs translate into real opportunities for Texas workers,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Alberto Trevino III. “That's why TWC's focus on apprenticeship programs and initiatives like the Jobs and Education for Texans grant is vital, providing the training and resources Texans need to succeed in these growing fields and build lasting careers.” The Amarillo metropolitan statistical area (MSA) had the lowest unemployment rate with a not seasonally adjusted rate of 3.3 percent in January. It was followed by the Midland MSA at 3.4 percent and the San Angelo MSA at 3.5 percent. “Job growth in Texas continues to outpace the nation thanks in large part to a dynamic workforce system that enables both employers and job seekers to thrive,” said TWC Commissioner Representing the Public Brent Connett. “TWC resources connect working Texans with high-demand career opportunities while ensuring Texas businesses have access to a skilled workforce.” Employment estimates released by TWC are produced in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. *All estimates are subject to revision. To access this and more employment data, visit TexasLMI.com. The Texas Labor Market Information Data for February is scheduled to be released on Friday, April 17, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. (CT).
Tuesday, April 28 | Athens, Longview, Marshall, Palestine, and Tyler
