Texas Employers,

This past February, the Texas Workforce Commission was proud to celebrate Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month. CTE programs are helping students across Texas prepare for high-skill, high-demand careers in more than 460 different fields.

Students enrolled in CTE courses are more likely to graduate high school, enroll in a two-year college, be employed after high school and earn more in the year after high school. Through programs like Dual Credit and the Jobs and Education for Texans Grant, TWC has helped more than 67,000 students gain hands-on training aligned with local workforce needs.

I encourage employers to continue building bridges between education and industry so that the curriculum is aligned with real employer demand, ensuring Texans aren’t just earning credentials, but credentials that matter in the labor market. The education of young Texans not only strengthens our workforce systems, but also Texas’ reputation as the best state for doing business.

Joe Esparza