Recent Press Releases

January 21, 2022 – Texas Unemployment Rate Falls to 5.0 Percent in December

AUSTIN - In December, the seasonally adjusted Texas unemployment rate was 5.0 percent, a decrease of 0.2 percentage points from November 2021. Read more about the December unemployment rate in the press release

January 20, 2022 – Ingram ISD Receives $188,147 Jobs and Education for Texans Grant

AUSTIN ⎯ The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) has awarded Ingram ISD a $188,147 Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) grant. Read more in the press release.

December 20, 2021 – TWC Awards $10.3 Million in Jobs and Education for Texans Grants to Support Career Training

AUSTIN ⎯ The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) has awarded 41 grants totaling $10,379,293 to multiple public community colleges, public technical institutes, public state colleges and independent school districts for programs that focus on supporting high-demand occupations through the Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) grant program. Read more about the grants in the press release.

December 17, 2021 – Texas Reaches New Employment High of 12,998,200 Jobs, Surpassing Pre-Pandemic Employment Level

AUSTIN – The Texas labor market has surpassed its previous pre-pandemic employment high in February 2020 of 12,970,000 jobs by reaching 12,998,200 total nonagricultural jobs in November 2021. Read more about the November unemployment rate in the press release.

December 2, 2021 – Texas Southmost College and SteelCoast Company, LLC Receive $283,325 Job-Training Grant

The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) has awarded Texas Southmost College and their partner SteelCoast Company, LLC a $283,325 Skills Development Fund grant. The grant will benefit workers in the Workforce Solutions Cameron area. Read more in the press release.

November 29, 2021 - Texas Workforce Commission Adopts No New Increases to Employer Tax Rates for 2022

The Texas Workforce Commission has set unemployment insurance tax rates for 2022 at a stable level to avoid burdening Texas businesses with a significant increase of taxes resulting from pandemic-related closures outside of their control. Read more about the rates in the press release.

November 24, 2021 - TWC Recognizes Five Texas Workforce Boards for Future Excellence in Innovation

The Texas Workforce Commission awarded five individual Texas Workforce Development Boards for future excellence in innovation during the 24th annual Texas Workforce Conference in Houston. South Texas, Northeast Texas, Gulf Coast, East Texas and North Texas Workforce Development Boards each received a $200,000 award. These funds will allow each board to create permanent programs, building upon some best innovative practices initiated and implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more about the awards in the press release.

November 19, 2021 – Texas Unemployment Rate Falls to 5.4 Percent in October

AUSTIN – In October, the seasonally adjusted Texas unemployment rate was 5.4 percent, a decrease of 0.2 percentage points from September 2021. Texas added 56,600 total nonagricultural jobs over the month, making gains in 17 of the last 18 months. Texas added a total of 661,300 jobs since October 2020. Read more about the October unemployment rate in the press release.

November 18, 2021 – TWC Chairman Bryan Daniel Testifies on How Community College Innovation Can Address the Middle Skills Gap

AUSTIN ⎯ Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Chairman Bryan Daniel testified this week before the Texas Commission on Community College Finance on the benefits of providing Texans with options for short-term credentials. Daniel pointed to several innovative ways Community Colleges can play a key role in assisting over 1 million, hard-working Texans develop the middle skills — defined as more than a high school diploma or equivalency but less than a four-year degree — that will put them on a path of success for in demand careers. Read more about the Chairman’s testimony in the press release.

November 15, 2021 – TWC Celebrates Apprenticeship Week

The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) will celebrate Apprenticeship Week this year from November 15-21 and encourages employers to discover how Registered Apprenticeship can support a diverse group of businesses, education partners, labor organizations, workforce partners and industry associations to meet the ongoing need for building a skilled workforce. Read more in the press release.

November 5, 2021 – TWC Invests Additional $665 Million In Child Care

AUSTIN – The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) this week approved an additional $665 million for a series of investments in child care in the state of Texas—in addition to over $3.5 billion previously invested. With the additional monies, TWC will fund several initiatives. Read about the child care investments in the press release.

November 3, 2021 – Workforce Solutions Rural Capital and Marble Falls, Burnet and Llano Economic Development Corporations Partner to Target High Demand Job Training with a $43,890 Grant

AUSTIN ⎯ The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) has awarded a $43,890 High Demand Job Training (HDJT) grant to Workforce Solutions Rural Capital in collaboration with the Economic Development Corporations (EDC’s) of Marble Falls, Burnet and Llano. These grants will benefit workers in the Workforce Solutions Rural Capital area.  Read more about the grant in the press release.

November 2, 2021 - Hiring Red, White and You Jobs Fair for Veterans Scheduled for November 4

The Texas Workforce Commission, in partnership with 28 local workforce development boards and the Texas Veterans Commission, will host veterans hiring fairs in 28 cities throughout Texas on Thursday, Nov. 4. The events will be a combination of in-person and virtual events. Read more about Hiring Red, White and You in the press release.

October 25, 2021 - TWC Approves $2.45 Billion in One-Time Funds to Aid Child Care Providers in Texas

AUSTIN – The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) recently approved $2.45 billion in direct support for the Texas child care industry. Providers may use these funds in a variety of ways to support their program’s operating costs. The one-time funds, made available through federal child care stimulus dollars, are intended to help child care providers address the impacts of COVID, and will be awarded to regulated child care centers and homes beginning in January 2022. Read more about the child care funds in the press release.

October 22, 2021 – Texas Unemployment Rate Falls to 5.6 Percent in September

AUSTIN – In September, the seasonally adjusted Texas unemployment rate was 5.6 percent, a decrease of 0.3 percentage points from August 2021. Texas added 95,800 total nonagricultural jobs over the month, making gains in 16 of the last 17 months. Texas added a total of 711,500 jobs since September 2020.Read more about the September unemployment rate in the press release.

October 14, 2021 – TWC Strengthens Child Care Industry in Texas Through Free Business Coaching

AUSTIN – The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is launching a new statewide initiative to assist child care providers throughout Texas. This initiative will offer business coaching resources and bring stability to a crucial industry of our Texas workforce. The program will help providers, many of whom struggled during the pandemic with low attendance numbers, strengthen their business practices to foster future success. Lack of access to affordable, quality child care is frequently cited as a key roadblock to employment for many Texans. Read more about the initiative in the release.

October 7, 2021 - Texas HireAbility 2021 Campaign Events Help Texans with Disabilities Connect with Employers, Find Meaningful Careers

AUSTIN – The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is partnering with the Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities and Texas Workforce Solutions for the 2021 Texas HireAbility campaign to raise awareness about the benefits of hiring people with disabilities. Each October, in conjunction with National Disability Employment Awareness Month, TWC and its partners conduct a statewide series of disability awareness promotions and hiring events to connect employers with this untapped talent pool. Read more about the campaign in the press release.

October 6, 2021 – TWC $351,794 Self Sufficiency Fund Grant Trains 188 Students to Gain Financial Independence and Upward Mobility

The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) has awarded Texas Southmost College a $351,794 Self Sufficiency Fund grant to help provide training to 188 adult Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients in occupations including welder, plumbing technician, insulator, scaffolder, forklift driver and electrician technician. Read more about the grant in the press release.

October 6, 2021 - Gulf Coast Carpenters & Millwrights Training Trust Fund Receives $105,001 Self Sufficiency Fund Grant

The Texas Workforce Commission has awarded the Gulf Coast Carpenters & Millwrights Training Trust Fund a $105,001 Self Sufficiency Fund training grant to help 50 individuals transition into the workforce. The grant will help provide job training skills for occupations in carpentry. Participants will receive the equivalent of two years of carpenter apprenticeship training in eight weeks. Read more about the grant in the press release.

September 22, 2021 - TWC Child Care Funding to Assist Service Industry Workers

AUSTIN – The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is providing extra help to the service industry, which was hit hard by the pandemic, by providing 12 months of free child care to low-income parents who are employed in the service industry. TWC has an existing child care subsidy program designed to assist low-wage workers in paying for the cost of child care. The new Service Industry Recovery (SIR) program will use federal COVID-relief funds to provide an extra focus on workers in the service industry. Read about the SIR grant program in the press release.

September 22, 2021 - ApprenticeshipTexas Conference to Explore Ways to Leverage Apprenticeships to Strengthen the Texas Economy

AUSTIN – The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) will host the sixth annual ApprenticeshipTexas Conference on September 23, 2021 to help employers, workforce development professionals and educational institutions learn about the many opportunities to use apprenticeships to build the Texas workforce. TWC invites employers, job seekers, educators and industry stakeholders to participate in the virtual conference. Read the press release to learn more about the conference.

September 17, 2021 - Texas Unemployment Rate Falls to 5.9 Percent in August

AUSTIN – In August, the seasonally adjusted Texas unemployment rate was 5.9 percent, a decrease of 0.3 percentage points from July 2021. Texas added 39,300 total nonagricultural jobs over the month, making gains in 15 of the last 16 months. Texas added a total of 681,000 jobs since August 2020. Read more about the August unemployment rate in the press release.

September 2, 2021 - A Labor Day Message to our Lone Star Workforce from the Texas Workforce Commission

AUSTIN -- This Labor Day weekend, the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) wants to recognize and pay tribute to the 14 million plus industrious Texans who are the backbone of our economy and the foundation of our state. Our state’s population is skyrocketing because Texas has built a sturdy economic growth engine, and that attracts new residents and drives population growth.  Our skilled workforce is the primary reason companies move to Texas every day and it’s also why our state’s economy is thriving. Read the letter in Press Releases.

August 31, 2021 - Temple College and Partners Awarded $124,001 Job-Training Grant

The Texas Workforce Commission has awarded Temple College and their partners Affordable Interior Solutions Inc., Butler Weldments, Mine Services Inc., and Whinstone US a $124,001 Skills Development Fund grant. The grant will benefit workers in the Workforce Solutions of Central Texas area. Read more about the grant in the press release.

August 26, 2021 – As Texas’ Unemployment Rate Falls Below 6.5 percent Extended UI Benefits to Trigger Off

AUSTIN ⎯ The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) will stop paying Extended Benefits (EB) as of the week ending September 11, 2021. Extended Benefits by law are only available during periods of high state or national unemployment, currently defined as an average rate of seasonally adjusted total unemployment that equals 6.5 percent or more. Read more about Extended UI benefits ending in the press release.

August 20, 2021 - Texas Unemployment Rate Falls to 6.2 Percent in July

AUSTIN — In July, the seasonally adjusted Texas unemployment rate was 6.2 percent, a decrease of 0.3 percentage points from June 2021. Texas added 80,900 total nonagricultural jobs over the month, making gains in 14 of the last 15 months. Texas added a total of 714,800 jobs since July 2020. Read more about the July unemployment rate in the press release.

August 05, 2021  – Texas Workforce Commission Supports Adult Education and Literacy with $4,250,000 in Grants

AUSTIN -- The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) awarded three grants in support of Adult Education and Literacy totaling $4,250,000. Read more about the grants in the press release.

July 26, 2021 – Texas Workforce Commission Awarded $10 Million by US Department of Labor for Apprenticeship Programs

AUSTIN -- The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) has been awarded $10 million in grant funding by the US Department of Labor to support the expansion of Registered Apprenticeship Programs in Texas. Read more about the grant in the press release.

July 16, 2021 - Texas Unemployment Rate Falls to 6.5 Percent in June

AUSTIN – In June, the seasonally adjusted Texas unemployment rate was 6.5 percent, down 0.1 percentage points from a revised rate of 6.6 percent in May 2021. Texas added 55,800 total nonagricultural jobs over the month, making gains in 13 of the last 14 months. Texas added a total of 654,200 jobs since June 2020. Read more about the June unemployment rate in the press release.

July 8, 2021 - Texas Workforce Commission Earmarks $9 Million Dollars for Initiative to End the Middle Skills Gap in Texas

AUSTIN –The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) earmarked funding for a comprehensive statewide strategy to end the middle skills gap in Texas. Due to technological advances in the workplace, employment demand has dramatically increased for individuals with middle skills, defined as workers with some education beyond high school but less than a four-year degree. Read more about TWC’s initiative to end the middle skills gap in the press release.