Workforce Solutions East Texas Expands Partnered Service Locations with Five New Access Point Locations

Workforce Solutions East Texas • February 3, 2022

Workforce Solutions East Texas (WSET) is pleased to announce five new Access Point partner locations established in East Texas. Access Point locations are service locations where WSET has established partnerships with community organizations to set up a place for job seekers to receive on-site assistance. These sites have a WSET resource area where job seekers can register for WorkInTexas.com, receive assistance with job searches, register for professional development workshops, and access resources during their staffed service hours.


The following are Access Points that opened in January:


The Panola College Access Point location is in Carthage at 1109 W Panola St. in the W.C. Smith Building, office number 116. It will be staffed every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and scheduled appointments.


The Camp County Access Point location is in Pittsburg at 200 W. Marshall St. E3 in the Habitat for Humanity building. It will be staffed every 2nd Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and for scheduled appointments.


The Rusk County Access Point location is in Henderson at 106 E. Main St. in the Rusk County Library. It will be staffed during the first Wednesday of every month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and for scheduled appointments.


The Upshur County Access Point location is in Gilmer at the Open Door Pregnancy Center. It will be staffed every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and for scheduled appointments.


The Anderson County Access Point location is in Palestine at Hope Station, located at 919 S Magnolia Street. It will be staffed every Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and for scheduled appointments.


"There is nothing more invigorating than being able to live and work where we choose. Our more regional participants enjoy the space, a more relaxed pace, and the freedom to enjoy life to its fullest. At the same time, we owe our participants the same opportunities they might experience in more urban settings. We're grateful to our partners for their facilities, allowing Workforce professionals to serve participants when and where they are," said WSET Executive Director Doug Shryock. 


WSET now has a total of 12 Access Points, partnered with Kilgore College, Jarvis Christian College in Hawkins, Rains County Library in Emory, Food for Life in Edgewood, Texas Tech Satellite Campus in Jefferson, and Camp V and St. Louis Baptist Church in Tyler. We plan to open new locations in Jacksonville, Palestine, and Marshall, pending agreements.

Workforce Center & Access Point Locations

August 4th Regionwide Job Fair Employers List

July 28, 2026
Tuesday, August 4 | Athens, Longview, Marshall, Palestine, and Tyler

Texas Job Market Grows by More Than 177,000 Positions Over the Year

July 20, 2026
Texas added 43,400 nonfarm jobs in June to reach a total of 14,469,600 positions. Over the year, the state added 177,900 jobs for an annual growth rate of 1.2 percent, outpacing the national growth rate by 0.9 percentage points. Texas’ civilian labor force registered at 15,904,900 after adding 3,400 people over the month. Over the year, Texas’ civilian labor force has added 29,700 people. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Texas registered at 4.4 percent. “Texas’ continued job growth is a testament to the strength of our employers and robust workforce development system,” said TWC Chairman Joe Esparza. “The addition of more than 177,000 jobs over the year reinforces Texas’ reputation among employers as the best place to start and grow a business.” The Professional and Business Services industry had the largest private sector over-the-month increase in June after adding 25,500 jobs. Leisure and Hospitality added 10,300 jobs over the month while Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 6,400. “The growth of the Texas labor market highlights the incredible talent and dedication of our state’s workforce,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Alberto Treviño III. “The Texas Workforce Commission is committed to ensuring every Texan has the support they need to thrive, whether through training opportunities to gain new skills or specialized programs that help our foster youth transition into successful careers.” The Midland metropolitan statistical area (MSA) had the lowest unemployment rate with a not seasonally adjusted rate of 3.6 percent in June. It was followed by the San Angelo MSA at 3.9 percent and the Abilene MSA at 4.0 percent. “With an annual growth rate of 1.2 percent, Texas continues to outpace the national average and demonstrate economic resilience,” said TWC Commissioner Representing the Public Brent Connett. “Both job seekers and employers can seek customized career services and recruitment assistance by visiting our TWC website or their local Workforce Solutions office.” 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 July is scheduled to be released on Friday, August 21, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. (CT).

Building Connections, Strengthening Child Care

July 20, 2026
Workforce Solutions East Texas Child Care Services is proud to partner with the Panola County Chamber of Commerce to support child care leaders across the region. Through this partnership, the Chamber provides a welcoming meeting space for Directors Connect training designed to help early learning program owners and directors connect, learn, and grow together. The partnership was made possible through the support of Keri Perot-Vance, Executive Director of the Panola County Chamber of Commerce, whose commitment to community collaboration helped create a space where child care leaders can come together to share ideas, discuss challenges, and strengthen their leadership skills. The partnership began in 2025 in response to daycare owners expressing a need for accessible training opportunities. Recognizing this need, Panola County Chamber of Commerce graciously offered to host the Directors Connect training in its beautiful historic building. This collaboration provides child care professionals with the opportunity to earn professional development hours required to remain in compliance with Child Care Regulation and Texas Rising Star. Tonia Crawford and Aerial Jones, Business Industry Specialists for Child Care Services and facilitators of Directors Connect, say the program has evolved into so much more than a training opportunity. It has become a space for meaningful conversations, professional connections, and shared solutions. Through these gatherings, directors are strengthening their businesses, growing as leaders, and ultimately enhancing the quality of care provided to children and families throughout East Texas. Workforce Solutions East Texas Child Care Services is grateful for the Panola County Chamber of Commerce's ongoing support and looks forward to continuing this impactful partnership for years to come. Together, we are investing in stronger leaders, stronger child care programs, and stronger communities.
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