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Talent & Workforce

The Houston metro area is the most racially and ethnically diverse region in the United States and the fifth most populous metro with over 7.3 million people. A strong economy with expanding businesses, numerous universities and technical schools, and a relatively low cost of living that draws new residents combine to make this one of the fastest growing regions in the U.S. The metro area had the second largest numeric increase (124,281) in population of any U.S. metro from July 2021 to July 2022, reflecting a 1.7 percent increase. Consistently ranking among the nation's leaders when it comes to job growth, Houston set a record for employment growth in 2021, adding over 172,000 jobs. The Houston metro area added another 145,700 jobs the following year.

With a labor force of more than 3 million workers, the Houston area offers the large variety of talent at all skill levels necessary for a wide range of industries from professional services to health care and advanced manufacturing to aerospace. The region is also a growing hub for young talent, ranking among the top 10 in the U.S. for attracting millennials and retaining college graduates.

34.2%

Population with a bachelor's degree or higher

300,000+

Educated millennials

243,000+

Net tech workforce

There is also a regional focus on developing tomorrow's workforce through educating young people on emerging industries and re-training mid-career professionals for high-demand careers. Houston has developed a strong bridge between the talent needs of various industries and the educational programs being offered through colleges, universities and technical programs.

Explore Houston's diversity

Higher Education

The Houston region is home to more than 40 two-year community colleges and four-year universities, including three Tier 1 universities: Rice University, University of Houston, and Texas A&M University. Houston-area colleges and universities educate almost 425,000 students and graduate nearly 100,000 students annually. In addition, another estimated 20,000 students are enrolled annually in local trade, vocational, and business schools specializing in law, health care, welding, process technology, and other disciplines.

40+

Two-year community colleges and four-year universities

50

Trade, vocational, and business schools

425,000

Students enrolled in colleges and universities in fall '22

Two-Year Community Colleges
Four-Year or Above

Regional Workforce Development Initiatives

UpSkill Houston

The Greater Houston Partnership developed UpSkill Houston, a comprehensive, industry-led approach to bridge the gap and fill jobs in 'middle-skills' occupations.

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Houston Back on Track

Houston Back On Track is an employer-led job recovery initiative with a mission to help get Houstonians back on their feet by working with Houston employers with current openings for quality, future-focused jobs.

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Related News

Life Sciences

From Setback to Strategy: How San Jacinto College and Generation Park are Building Houston’s Biotech Workforce

4/28/25
Like every city, Houston experiences setbacks. The difference is Houston doesn’t dwell on them. It adapts, rebuilds and always comes back stronger. That’s exactly what the region is doing with biotech, an emerging sector where Houston is determined to lead.  The region’s economic development strategy shifted after losing Amazon’s HQ2 in 2019. Leaders doubled down on partnerships, long-term planning and industry diversification.  In 2022, there was another missed opportunity. A leading pharmaceutical company’s decision to choose North Carolina highlighted another critical gap in Houston – the need for a biotech workforce.   Rather than retreat, Houston responded with action. San Jacinto College (SJC) and Generation Park launched a bold partnership to build a biotech talent pipeline, ensuring the region is ready for the next big opportunity.  Learn more about Houston’s life sciences industry and how local colleges and businesses are working together to build the region’s biotech workforce.  SJC & Generation Park Partnership  Ryan McCord, McCord Development President and the visionary behind Generation Park, had long believed Houston could lead in life sciences. But as biotech investments flowed to other cities, it became clear: infrastructure alone wasn’t enough.  While Houston’s life sciences sector has grown steadily over the past decade— recording the second-highest employment growth rate among major markets from 2022 to 2023, according to CBRE’s 2025 Life Sciences Outlook—the region continued to face a shortage of technicians to support critical functions such as laboratory setup, data collection and research observation.  That’s when McCord turned to SJC, a proven leader in workforce development with a track record of building industry-aligned programs. Together, they launched the Center for Biotechnology, a workforce-first solution to close the talent gap and make Houston a top destination for biotech companies.  "San Jacinto College’s Biotechnology Center at Generation Park is the catalyst our region needs to fill the gap in our existing life science ecosystem and accelerate biomanufacturing in Houston,” said McCord in a news release.  Inside the Center for Biotechnology  Opening this summer, the Center for Biotechnology offers more than just textbook knowledge, it delivers hands-on training with industry-grade equipment. At its core is a pilot-scale bioprocessing plant where students will gain real-world experience using the same tools found in commercial facilities.   Click to expand To develop the curriculum, SJC partnered with the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT), a global leader in biopharma education. That partnership makes the center the exclusive provider of NIBRT-licensed training in the southern U.S., and one of just six institutions worldwide with this distinction.  “Building on San Jacinto College’s established track record of working with industry to develop need-specific training and accreditation centers, the partnership with NIBRT represents an opportunity to train the workforce that Houston's biopharma industry needs to sustain its rapid growth,” said Brenda Hellyer, Chancellor of SJC, in a statement. “We also expect to contribute to the global market by training people eager to enter this growing industry from around the United States and beyond.”  The center also offers students exposure to emerging fields like cell and gene therapy. A regional advisory board of life sciences leaders will guide the curriculum to ensure it evolves with industry needs.  Strategic Location  The center is located within Generation Park, one of Houston’s fastest-growing innovation districts, and sits just steps away from BioHub Two, a 45-acre biomanufacturing campus currently under development. Once complete, BioHub Two will feature 500,000 square feet of state-of-the-art lab, office and cGMP manufacturing space, designed to attract life sciences companies to the region.   Click to expand What makes this proximity so powerful is the built-in connection between workforce development and industry growth. Companies moving into BioHub Two won’t just gain access to premier infrastructure, they’ll have a direct pipeline to trained, job-ready talent.  Spanning 4,300 acres, Generation Park is also home to leading institutions like Lone Star College and companies such as TechnipFMC and Apache Industrial Services. Beyond businesses, the district offers a great quality of life, surrounded by restaurants, shops, green space and residential options, all just a short drive from George Bush Intercontinental Airport and Port Houston.  Positioned for the Future  The partnership between SJC and Generation Park is more than a response to a missed opportunity – it’s a bold investment in Houston’s future. The Center for Biotechnology demonstrates how aligning education with industry needs can unlock long-term growth, strengthen the region’s talent pipeline, and position Houston as a national hub for life sciences innovation and biomanufacturing. 
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Education

New Report Highlights 'Substantial Improvements' at HISD Schools

4/22/25
A new report and podcast are casting a national spotlight on one of the most important education stories in the state – the dramatic turnaround at Houston ISD under Superintendent Mike Miles. The Manhattan Institute's City Journal's 10 Blocks podcast, which features public policy conversations, recently interviewed education analyst Neetu Arnold about her report on the reforms at HISD. Arnold discusses the New Education System, which has raised teacher pay at underperforming schools, expanded instructional time, and created a more structured learning environment. These changes have already shown promising results, including improved student outcomes and fewer disciplinary actions. In January, the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results also showed the progress the district has made. Here are a few of the highlights: Fourth-grade reading proficiency saw a 4% rise compared to flat or declining trends nationwide.  In Fourth-grade reading, Black students reversed a long-standing decline, achieving an 8-point increase in their scale scores. Economically disadvantaged students, who make up 78% of HISD’s population, outpaced growth rates in comparable districts. For fourth-graders, the proficiency rate is approaching HISD’s historic high of 24% from 2011. In middle school, the 21% proficiency rate represents the highest reading performance in the past two decades. “The 2024 NAEP results speak for themselves and continue to validate the tremendous achievement gains we saw throughout last school year. This is a testament to our students and especially the teachers and staff who work every day in the classroom, providing high-quality instruction to every student.” - Greater Houston Partnership President and CEO Steve Kean said in January. The Partnership recognizes that a strong public education system is essential to creating economic opportunity, strengthening families, and securing Houston’s long-term competitiveness. Arnold acknowledges the initial resistance to these reforms, but points to the data-driven improvements as evidence of why bold action was needed. Her podcast interview makes the case that Houston ISD’s turnaround can serve as a model for other large urban districts across the country.    
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Related Events

Economic Development

Regions - Baytown

The 12-county greater Houston area is one of the largest and most diverse business regions in the nation. Each county brings its own unique characteristics that attract key sectors from advanced manufacturing to…

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