Texas Community Colleges Step Up for State's Recovery
TRUE Seeks to Accelerate Skills Training and Upskilling Needed by Employers
The COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn have dealt an undeniable blow to greater Houston’s workforce. As 2020 came to a close, our regional economy recovered approximately 60 percent of the 360,000 jobs lost last March, but that still left roughly 150,000 residents across the Houston area without jobs at the end of the year. While the regional number is declining, statewide, the number stands at approximately 544,000 people who are unemployed due to the pandemic. The changing market and the way work has been conducted during the pandemic have shifted the skills individuals need to reenter the workforce.
In the fall of 2019, community colleges across Texas enrolled more than 740,000 students. With that level of enrollment, Texas community colleges are positioned to have a significant impact on the long-term growth of the Texas economy. Community colleges provide 92 percent of career and technical credentials in Texas. Community colleges, therefore, are the ideal places for displaced workers and job seekers to gain new skills or credentials that lead to good-paying jobs.