Middle-skill jobs, those that require more education and training than a high school diploma but less than a four-year degree, enable BY's target audiences to achieve financial stability and mobility within their careers. Of Houston’s 3.6 million jobs, 1.4 million—or approximately 40 percent— are middle-skill positions, the largest segment of the job market. (UpSkill)
Houston has seen great economic growth – in May 2022, the region added 31,000 jobs. This growth is projected to be 6%. Despite this growth, there is a struggle to fill middle-skill positions due to the "skills gap", a mismatch between job seeker skills and business needs.
There are different metrics when considering industries of priority:
Houston Growth: Seven industries have driven Houston’s recent growth: oil and gas, healthcare, ports and maritime, utilities, advanced manufacturing, petrochemicals, and commercial and industrial construction. This growth invites job openings
UpSkills "High Priority"** Occupational Areas: Five industries employ their middle-skill workers at or over a 40% concentration (the regional average) in high priority occupations: construction, digital transformation, energy, petrochemicals, and transportation & logistics. These areas are primarily based in
Construction trades; installation, maintenance, and repair
Production; technicians and drafters
Transportation and material moving occupations.
Above-Average Employment: Seven industries employ over 30% of middle-skill employees (the regional average): biomedical, construction, energy, manufacturing, petrochemicals, real estate, and transportation and logistics
Looking at these lists, a few key industries stand out: construction, biomedical, petrochemicals, energy, manufacturing, and transportation.
We need to focus on providing more training programs in Manufacturing and in Trade, Transportation, & Utilities, as these industries are instrumental in Houston's economic growth and employ a large portion of middle-skill occupations.
We provide a decent number of programs in Professional and Business Services and Information Technology, but these industries do not employ as many middle-skill careers or have as big an influence on Houston's growth as other industries. We may consider shifting our focus.
With a high number of jobs in construction and education/health services, MorePathways is helping students gain the skills necessary for two of the largest industries in Houston for middle-skill careers.
Overall, by providing training programs for middle-skill occupations, MP enables students and adults to take advantage of Houston's skill gap and find stable careers in growing industries.
Construction
Elevator Installers and Repairers: 173
Insulation Workers, Mechanical: 170
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers: 2,378
Structural Iron and Steel Workers: 335
Construction and Building Inspectors: 326
Electricians: 2,259
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters: 1,602
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators: 1,421
Healthcare Support
Physical Therapist: 211
Installation, Maintenance, & Repair
Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door Entry : 234
Industrial Machinery Mechanics: 1,097
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines: 532
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers: 291
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists: 787
Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers: 269
Mangerial & Professional
Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers: 163
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers: 261
Tax Preparers Entry: 250
Paralegals and Legal Assistants: 797
Production
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders: 815
Chemical Plant and System Operators: 292
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers 403
Gas Plant Operators: 167
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers: 2,007
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters: 337
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers: 1,959
Protective Services
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers: 1,401
Sales & Office Support
Real Estate Sales Agents: 648
Sales Representatives, Services, All Other: 4,102
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products: 3,655
Brokerage Clerks: 164
Technicians & Drafters
Geological and Petroleum Technicians: 252
Chemical Technicians: 323
Mechanical Engineering Technicians: 164
Surveying and Mapping Technicians: 250
Mechanical Drafters: 190
Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other: 348
Civil Engineering Technicians: 278
Architectural and Civil Drafters: 314
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians: 152
Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technicians: 340
Engineering Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other: 189
Transportation & Material Moving
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels: 241
Wellhead Pumpers: 162
Flight Attendants: 557
Transportation Inspectors Entry: 154
Crane and Tower Operators: 221
** "High Priority" is defined as jobs with high projected annual job openings, median wage relative to the overall regional median wage, and regional concentration.