"As a workforce board, our goals are to make sure our population is educated with good skill sets and to fill the seats at good education programs like those at our community colleges and universities - particularly those that are non-traditional for females. We must focus on growing our own and Improving our community."
- Willie taylor, executive director of Workforce Solutions Permian basin
Education and Workforce Challenges
Stakeholders in the Permian Basin region are faced with significant challenges in developing the workforce to meet industry demand, particularly in the boom phase of oil and gas production - the region is inextricably tied to the demands of the oil and gas industry due to its the heavy concentration of petroleum and natural gas producing wells. Boom phase labor demands outweigh local labor supply, leading to an influx of workers from outside the region. This migration has the secondary effect of straining capacity local housing stock and temporary housing, inflating rents, cost of living, and leading to inflationary wage pressures.
Pressures are compounded by the composition of the local economy. Five of the six consensus target industry clusters for the region are heavily non-traditional female workplaces with significant overlap in skill set requirements and staffing patterns (see Economic Clusters section of this report). The lone exception is the Biomedical and Life Sciences cluster which employs a 79.0% female workforce. The resultant competition for labor force, likewise, adds inflationary pressure to wages.
To provide stability and continue to foster an environment conducive to economic growth for the region, workforce development and education proprietors must respond by focusing on the two of the most significant challenges facing regional employers and economic development efforts: (1) the lack of available workforce and (2) skill deficiencies within the labor force.
Workforce Availability: Lack of workforce availability was consistently cited by regional economic development stakeholders, employers, and Workforce Solutions Permian Basin as a constraint on economic growth and limiter in the ability to attract and grow industry in the region. Availability is limited by persistently low unemployment rates (2.8% for the Permian Basin Workforce Development Area in November 2013), and heavy reliance on a male able-bodied workforce (5 of the 6 driver industry clusters are characterized by workforces that are more than 70% male). Regional shortages are localized and exacerbated by continued strong economic growth and the lack of a sufficient public transit system to mobilize the workforce throughout the region. According to Texas Workforce Commission Local Area Unemployment Statistics, the Labor Force for the Permian Basin expanded 23.8% during the past 5 years (ending November 2014), well below the 29.8% growth in employment during the same timeframe.
Skill Deficiencies: In the 21st century economy, all region's must aggressively prepare the workforce with the basic workplace and technical skills required by modern industry. This challenge is compounded for the Permian basin which is characterized by (1) high technical skill set requirements (see Economic Clusters section of this report) and (2) chronically low unemployment and limited slack in the labor pool (in November 2014, Midland MSA and Odessa MSA boasted the 4th and 12th lowest unemployment rate respectively of any MSA nationwide at 2.3% and 2.8%). The challenge facing the region is steep for region which suffers from low educational attainment rates relative to the state and nation. Modeled data from Economic Modeling Specialists Inc. (EMSI) indicates only 21.9% of Permian Basin residents age 25+ possess an associates degree or higher, versus 32.7% for the Texas. Likewise, 25.1% of residents age 25+ possess less than a high school diploma, versus 19.1% statewide.
The region is responding to these challenges by developing progressive workforce and education programs and partnerships that (1) develop the transferable and technical skills necessary to be competitive within its Adult Labor Force and (2) provide for rapid skill attainment and credentialing for area youth in secondary and post-secondary education and training programs.
Partnerships such as the P-16 West Texas Regional Council are prevalent in the region. The P-16 initiative in the Permian Basin recognized the need for an integrated effort of representatives from local ISDs, higher education, private sector and government to collaborate and plan for workforce preparedness to meet present and future industry demands.
Education Service Center Region 18 partnered with the PBRPCEDD and numerous other community -serving institutions in the region on the Connect Southwest Project, a $12 million effort funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce.The Project goal is to deploy new, high-speed middle-mile infrastructure across the area as part of a public-private collaboration with five regional broadband service providers. The project also aims to deploy or improve videoconferencing capabilities at local K-12 and higher-education institutions and work with the Texas Department of Public Safety to link its locations in Midland, Alpine, and Fort Stockton to the new network.
Regional ISDs have also done an admirable job of responding the the challenges of implementing Texas House Bill 5, called a "game changer" by Workforce Solutions Permian Basin Executive Director Willie Taylor, by partnering with regional industry to contextualize learning experiences for secondary school youth.
Additionally, the region has developed a mature and robust education and training infrastructure providing its citizens the opportunities for advancement in the local and global economies.
Pressures are compounded by the composition of the local economy. Five of the six consensus target industry clusters for the region are heavily non-traditional female workplaces with significant overlap in skill set requirements and staffing patterns (see Economic Clusters section of this report). The lone exception is the Biomedical and Life Sciences cluster which employs a 79.0% female workforce. The resultant competition for labor force, likewise, adds inflationary pressure to wages.
To provide stability and continue to foster an environment conducive to economic growth for the region, workforce development and education proprietors must respond by focusing on the two of the most significant challenges facing regional employers and economic development efforts: (1) the lack of available workforce and (2) skill deficiencies within the labor force.
Workforce Availability: Lack of workforce availability was consistently cited by regional economic development stakeholders, employers, and Workforce Solutions Permian Basin as a constraint on economic growth and limiter in the ability to attract and grow industry in the region. Availability is limited by persistently low unemployment rates (2.8% for the Permian Basin Workforce Development Area in November 2013), and heavy reliance on a male able-bodied workforce (5 of the 6 driver industry clusters are characterized by workforces that are more than 70% male). Regional shortages are localized and exacerbated by continued strong economic growth and the lack of a sufficient public transit system to mobilize the workforce throughout the region. According to Texas Workforce Commission Local Area Unemployment Statistics, the Labor Force for the Permian Basin expanded 23.8% during the past 5 years (ending November 2014), well below the 29.8% growth in employment during the same timeframe.
Skill Deficiencies: In the 21st century economy, all region's must aggressively prepare the workforce with the basic workplace and technical skills required by modern industry. This challenge is compounded for the Permian basin which is characterized by (1) high technical skill set requirements (see Economic Clusters section of this report) and (2) chronically low unemployment and limited slack in the labor pool (in November 2014, Midland MSA and Odessa MSA boasted the 4th and 12th lowest unemployment rate respectively of any MSA nationwide at 2.3% and 2.8%). The challenge facing the region is steep for region which suffers from low educational attainment rates relative to the state and nation. Modeled data from Economic Modeling Specialists Inc. (EMSI) indicates only 21.9% of Permian Basin residents age 25+ possess an associates degree or higher, versus 32.7% for the Texas. Likewise, 25.1% of residents age 25+ possess less than a high school diploma, versus 19.1% statewide.
The region is responding to these challenges by developing progressive workforce and education programs and partnerships that (1) develop the transferable and technical skills necessary to be competitive within its Adult Labor Force and (2) provide for rapid skill attainment and credentialing for area youth in secondary and post-secondary education and training programs.
Partnerships such as the P-16 West Texas Regional Council are prevalent in the region. The P-16 initiative in the Permian Basin recognized the need for an integrated effort of representatives from local ISDs, higher education, private sector and government to collaborate and plan for workforce preparedness to meet present and future industry demands.
Education Service Center Region 18 partnered with the PBRPCEDD and numerous other community -serving institutions in the region on the Connect Southwest Project, a $12 million effort funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce.The Project goal is to deploy new, high-speed middle-mile infrastructure across the area as part of a public-private collaboration with five regional broadband service providers. The project also aims to deploy or improve videoconferencing capabilities at local K-12 and higher-education institutions and work with the Texas Department of Public Safety to link its locations in Midland, Alpine, and Fort Stockton to the new network.
Regional ISDs have also done an admirable job of responding the the challenges of implementing Texas House Bill 5, called a "game changer" by Workforce Solutions Permian Basin Executive Director Willie Taylor, by partnering with regional industry to contextualize learning experiences for secondary school youth.
Additionally, the region has developed a mature and robust education and training infrastructure providing its citizens the opportunities for advancement in the local and global economies.
Education and Workforce Infrastructure
The Permian Basin, however, is home to several public post-secondary educational institutions to support the development of a skilled workforce. The region is also supported by Workforce Solutions Permian Basin, a regional Workforce Investment Board dedicated to assisting individuals find employment and progress along their chosen career pathway.
University of Texas of the Permian Basin
The University of Texas of the Permian Basin, an academic
institution of The University of Texas System, is a growing and vibrant
four-year university offering bachelors and masters degrees. Its faculty is
engaged in a wide range of research attracting millions of dollars in grants
for programs in teacher certification, energy research, and groundbreaking work
in many disciplines.
U.T. Permian Basin has a diverse student population who consistently earn awards in kinesiology, business, and visual arts. UTPB has a 98% pass rate for teacher certification and ranks third in the state for placement in employment and graduate school. Student enrollment has grown, often in the double digits. Student housing expanded in Fall 2004 and Fall 2005 with the addition of twelve apartment-style buildings bringing the number of student residents to almost 500.
The largest graduate program at the University is the College of Education, respected for its teacher certification programs and mentoring strategies that reach out to the public school classrooms in the community. U.T. Permian Basin boasts exceptionally high success rates for graduates in the pre-health and education professions. First-time acceptance rates for graduates who apply to medical or health professional schools averages 78 percent, compared to the 1998 state average of 40 percent. The university takes pride in offering 32 undergraduate degrees and 19 graduate programs as well as various certification programs. The masters degree programs include seven different education specialties, plus a masters degree in Professional Accountancy, Biology, Business Administration, Criminal Justice Administration, English, Geology, History, Kinesiology, Clinical or Research Psychology, Public Administration and Spanish.
Four additional graduate degrees are currently available through U.T. Permian Basin’s distance learning program. These include the online courses: Master of Business Administration, Master of Science in Kinesiology, Master or Arts in Education – Educational Leadership, Master of Arts in Education – Special Education , and the School Superintendent Certification. First year basic courses through the UT TeleCampus (a virtual campus that includes every component of the University of Texas System). In addition, U.T. Permian Basin offers courses in cooperation with the three area community colleges in many locations throughout the region via the Regional Electronic Academic Communications Highway (REACH). The University began offering classes taught at Midland College, and at the Center for Energy and Economic Diversification in Fall 2003. Presently, six undergraduate degrees and one graduate degree are offered by UTPB at Midland College.
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U.T. Permian Basin has a diverse student population who consistently earn awards in kinesiology, business, and visual arts. UTPB has a 98% pass rate for teacher certification and ranks third in the state for placement in employment and graduate school. Student enrollment has grown, often in the double digits. Student housing expanded in Fall 2004 and Fall 2005 with the addition of twelve apartment-style buildings bringing the number of student residents to almost 500.
The largest graduate program at the University is the College of Education, respected for its teacher certification programs and mentoring strategies that reach out to the public school classrooms in the community. U.T. Permian Basin boasts exceptionally high success rates for graduates in the pre-health and education professions. First-time acceptance rates for graduates who apply to medical or health professional schools averages 78 percent, compared to the 1998 state average of 40 percent. The university takes pride in offering 32 undergraduate degrees and 19 graduate programs as well as various certification programs. The masters degree programs include seven different education specialties, plus a masters degree in Professional Accountancy, Biology, Business Administration, Criminal Justice Administration, English, Geology, History, Kinesiology, Clinical or Research Psychology, Public Administration and Spanish.
Four additional graduate degrees are currently available through U.T. Permian Basin’s distance learning program. These include the online courses: Master of Business Administration, Master of Science in Kinesiology, Master or Arts in Education – Educational Leadership, Master of Arts in Education – Special Education , and the School Superintendent Certification. First year basic courses through the UT TeleCampus (a virtual campus that includes every component of the University of Texas System). In addition, U.T. Permian Basin offers courses in cooperation with the three area community colleges in many locations throughout the region via the Regional Electronic Academic Communications Highway (REACH). The University began offering classes taught at Midland College, and at the Center for Energy and Economic Diversification in Fall 2003. Presently, six undergraduate degrees and one graduate degree are offered by UTPB at Midland College.
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Texas Tech University Health Science Center at the Permian Basin
The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at the
Permian Basin is part of a seven campus regional system that serves the greater
Permian Basin area with three schools located on campus providing higher
medical education in allied health sciences, medicine and nursing.
The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at the Permian Basin was established in 1979 and began operations in the basement of Medical Center Hospital.
The School of Allied Health Sciences welcomed its first class to the Permian Basin in the fall of 1994. The program offers a doctorate degree in the Physical Therapy program and a master degree in the Physician Assistant program that is independently located on the Midland College campus.
The School of Medicine provides residency and fellowship training in the Permian Basin. Third and fourth year medical students are located on the Permian Basin campus as well.
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The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at the Permian Basin was established in 1979 and began operations in the basement of Medical Center Hospital.
The School of Allied Health Sciences welcomed its first class to the Permian Basin in the fall of 1994. The program offers a doctorate degree in the Physical Therapy program and a master degree in the Physician Assistant program that is independently located on the Midland College campus.
The School of Medicine provides residency and fellowship training in the Permian Basin. Third and fourth year medical students are located on the Permian Basin campus as well.
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Howard College
Howard College is a community college serving 13 counties in
the Permian Basin region via its four campuses in Big Spring (main campus),
Lamesa, and San Angelo as well as the Southwest Collegiate Institute for the
Deaf (SWCID). Howard College offers
basic core or occupation-specific classes for students who want to begin or
rekindle their higher education experience. Still other classes are available
for professionals wanting to sharpen their skills or possibly make a career
change.
Odessa College
Odessa College offers more than 45
associate degree programs and 70 certificate options. To meet the needs of
today's students, classes are available on the beautiful OC main campus in
Odessa, at extension sites in Andrews, Monahans, Pecos, and Seminole as well as
in the convenience of their home or office over the Internet through OC Global.
Midland College
Midland College is a level-two, comprehensive community
college that offers more than 50 fields of study, including programs in
nursing, paralegal studies, aviation maintenance technology, oil and gas
technology. MC offers associate degrees, certificates, and even a baccalaureate
degree. More than 7,000 credit students are enrolled at Midland College.
The Midland Development Corporation assisted with the funding for equipment for Midland College's Wind Energy Training curriculum to assist in developing and improving the workforce for existing industries as well as new wind industry companies.
Midland International is home of the Midland College Aviation Maintenance Technology program. Upon successful completion of this program students are eligible to obtain their FAA Airframe & Powerplant Licenses.
The Midland Development Corporation assisted with the funding for equipment for Midland College's Wind Energy Training curriculum to assist in developing and improving the workforce for existing industries as well as new wind industry companies.
Midland International is home of the Midland College Aviation Maintenance Technology program. Upon successful completion of this program students are eligible to obtain their FAA Airframe & Powerplant Licenses.
Midland Advanced Technology Center
ATC is a unique educational partnership (with Midland
College, the Midland Independent School District, and several community
partners) designed to deliver technical workforce education programs. The
facility also enables Midland-area residents to further enhance their technical
skills through recognized certifications and other continuing education
opportunities. The ATC offers
instruction in a number of areas, including automotive, computer, building
trades, machinist, and customized business demand technologies.
Petroleum Professional Development Center at Midland College
The
Development Center is a state-of-the-art educational facility designed
specifically for the oil and gas industry, and is one of seven mid-career
training centers worldwide recognized by the American Association of Petroleum
Geologists.
CEED
The Center for Energy and Economic Diversification, located
on the campus of the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, offers courses,
research, and other resources to the oil and gas industry and also works on
helping transition the region's oil-dominated economy to a more diversified
economy. The Petroleum Industry Alliance, U.S. Department of Commerce Economic
Development Administration, and Small Business Development Center, which
provides business assistance for small businesses, are all housed at CEED.
Andrews Business and Technology Center
The Andrews Business and Technology Center offers upper/lower division classes, vocational training, and state of the are technology for distance learning. The Center is equipped with a Science Lab, Nursing Program Facility, Multi-Computer Labs with Interactive Capabilities, and a Video Conferencing Board Room. The Center was developed in partnership with Odessa College, UTPB and the College of the Southwest, the City of Andrews and Andrews County.
Workforce Solutions Permian Basin
Workforce Solutions Permian Basin is
your one-stop for employers, job seekers, and youth to find needed tools for
workforce-related issues. We are here to help provide resources to assist:
- Businesses who are seeking new employees or information to support and grow their business;
- Individuals looking for information about different occupations or careers;
- Families needing resources such as child care to support their employment activities and;
- Young adults looking for career options.
Our mission is to “invest in the future through jobs and training” here in the Permian Basin.
- Businesses who are seeking new employees or information to support and grow their business;
- Individuals looking for information about different occupations or careers;
- Families needing resources such as child care to support their employment activities and;
- Young adults looking for career options.
Our mission is to “invest in the future through jobs and training” here in the Permian Basin.