Texas is a big state, and there are different skills gaps in different regions. One striking trend did emerge in our research on the 28 Workforce Board regions in Texas—across the board, the above median wage, growing jobs are in construction and manufacturing, and related fields. This reflects a larger demographic trend—the aging of the skilled trades workforce. It is clear that secondary CTE programs in Texas are not delivering the kinds of skill-based and hands-on training that will enable students to enter these gainful careers.
Public Safety
Chuck DeVore’s Testimony Before the Texas House Committee on Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans’ Affairs | Protecting Texas Critical Infrastructure
Protecting Texas Critical Infrastructure Testimony of Chuck DeVore Senior Fellow, Chief National Initiatives Officer Texas Public Policy Foundation Chairman, members of the committee: thank you for the opportunity to testify. Texas’s electric grid, energy facilities, water systems, ports, and other critical infrastructure underpin our economy and national security. Disruptions cascade fast—as Winter Storm Uri and...
July 30, 2026