Building Houston's Workforce: How UpSkill Houston is Shaping Talent for 2025 and Beyond

UpSkill Houston’s mission is to cultivate one of the finest skilled workforces globally and ensure opportunities for all residents in the Houston region. Over the past decade, UpSkill Houston has established a renowned employer-led collective focused on developing skilled talent initiatives, setting a benchmark admired by major metros.

In 2024, the UpSkill Houston summit marked a decade of success and highlighted the need to accelerate efforts in talent-driven economic development. The summit emphasized skills-first approaches to tap into hidden and diverse talent pools, aiming to mobilize the entire workforce. With a strong foundation, UpSkill Houston seeks to “Equip and Inspire” partners to enhance and scale workforce development for current and future economic needs.

The success of UpSkill Houston over the past year is evident in the milestones achieved and partnerships cultivated. Here’s a snapshot of its impact:

• 200,000+ students impacted
• 5,424 individuals referred by Houston Back on Track between April 2023 and March 2024
• 70+ education, community and workforce organizations committed to collaborating with employers
• 4 industry sector collaboratives focused on building talent pipelines

As Houston transitions from an industrial to a knowledge-based, technology-driven economy, the rapid evolution of skills is reshaping the labor market. New roles are emerging, existing ones are being modified, and some are being displaced. This transformation presents both challenges and opportunities for the region.

To maintain the region’s competitive edge, UpSkill Houston is committed to addressing the skills gap and expanding opportunities. Future actions include:

1. Developing the skilled workforce needed for the emerging hydrogen and energy industries in East Harris County. UpSkill is partnering with Accenture to engage more than 15 hydrogen and energy employers to understand the skills, needs and demands for the future, creating massive opportunity for economic mobility.
2. Enhancing data and tools to better address the region’s skills challenges.
3. Utilizing the “Equip and Inspire” model to provide resources and strategies that activate partners and drive solutions. By implementing these actions, UpSkill Houston aims to ensure that the Houston region remains a global leader in economic strength and skilled workforce development.

By implementing these actions, UpSkill Houston aims to ensure that the Houston region remains a global leader in economic strength and skilled workforce development.

Linda Aldred, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Texas Children’s Hospital, reflects on the transformative power of collaboration and the collective impact achieved by UpSkill Houston over the years:

“As I think back on my eight years of being a part of UpSkill Houston, my greatest takeaways have been the power of the partnership, the collaboration that exists in the room, and the impact it achieves. It has been great to partner with colleagues in the industry to think about what the workforce of the future looks like and what we need to do to prepare Houston. UpSkill Houston has challenged all of us to shift our mindsets from working on this challenge alone to the power of a committed group collaborating to build something impactful together.”

As the region embraces new opportunities in emerging industries, UpSkill Houston invites employers, educators, and community leaders to join the effort in shaping a skilled and inclusive workforce for 2025 and beyond.

Learn how you can partner with UpSkill Houston and be part of the solution for our region’s economic future.

Download the Partnership’s 2024 Impact Report.