Highlighting its upcoming 30-year anniversary of fostering a dynamic state workforce and working environment, the plan outlines the agency’s goals and strategies for continued innovation in an evolving employment landscape.
It’s overarching goals, in brief, are to “ensure the … system supports employers and allows business and industry to thrive,” to “ensure a skilled workforce is prepared and equipped to fill critical in-demand jobs” and to “provide exceptional customer service and support.”
The fourth-largest agency by budget, it has $2.6 billion in FY 2024-25 state allocations; this includes $3.9 million for information resources (administration), $5 million to continue its child-care application build and $3.8 million to continue modernization efforts.
Relying largely on software systems for service delivery and reporting, the agency is in a continuous modernization process. It is also planning multiple data use projects, all of a collaborative nature and within statewide information resources goals.
These include:
- Execute a shared, secure data infrastructure and governance model. Multiple steps include implementing joint governance, identifying data gaps and opportunities and creating a shared data portal that will be tested by partner agency staff. Test, enhance, streamline and maintain timely data matching and sharing. Target date of August 2027.
- Expand mid-skill education and training. This includes expanding digital technology access by August 2025.
- Expand work-based learning for youth and adults. TWC and partners will identify data that will be used to report use and success. Target date of August 2027.
- Pilot and expand enhanced wage record, which will develop a data model and definitions. TWC will pilot with employers and third-party administrators who will share data. Evaluate the data, report and expand. Target date of August 2027.
- Implement ways to collect and report industry-based certification data. Partner to plan, collect and share data, and report on attainment. Target dates September 2024 to October 2027.
- Expected launch of Child Care Case Management System: July 2024
- Workforce Case Management Modernization System replacement: April 2024
- Agency website upgrade: September 2023
- Four systems were migrated to low-code tools:
- Foreign Labor Certification
- Work Opportunity Tax Credit
- Texas Rapid Response Accountability Compliance System
- Learner Outcome Tracking System
Regarding its own employment, TWC’s IT and Procurement and Contract Services are two of a total of five areas where recruiting is being used to fill vacancies due to a talent shortage, the plan states. Remote work is among efforts to recruit and retain hires.
The IT division has 256 full-time employees, augmented by contractors within IT Infrastructure Services, IT Applications Solutions and Data Governance.
