Local Workforce Development Boards are crucial in developing regional workforces and supporting our local economies. Young people are the cornerstone of Texas’ future economic prosperity. Unfortunately, a significant portion of those aged 16-24, termed opportunity youth and young adults (OYYA), struggle to enter or stay in school and the workforce. This disconnect not only affects individual lives but also threatens the long-term vitality of our state’s economy and tax base.

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding is the primary source of funding available for OYYA, and it is administered by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) through the Local Workforce Development Boards (LWDB’s). Some of the boards can also provide resources to OYYA using Texas Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Pell Grants. However, WIOA funding remains the critical lifeline for reconnecting OYYA to education and employment opportunities.

Despite the importance of this funding and the programs it supports, there are significant gaps in community engagement, fiscal transparency, and strategic planning that hinder its effective utilization. There are no current local requirements to notify workforce officials regarding the creation of new subsidized jobs, which can leave local workforce boards unprepared to provide the support new workers will need, such as job training, childcare, and transportation. Although LWDB’s track their OYYA spending and other metrics to comply with federal requirements, that information is not readily available to legislators and local stakeholders, impeding data-driven decision-making and resource allocation. Moreover, some improvements can be made to increase collaboration and efficiency. Planning efforts also vary considerably across the state—for instance, eighteen strategic plans make no mention of the term “opportunity youth” and twelve do not reference “disconnected youth”. Nevertheless, all strategic plans express their support for this population, though using different terminology. This inconsistency hampers the development of targeted, statewide approaches to addressing OYYA needs and prevents the replication of successful initiatives across regions. By incorporating an OYYA section in their strategic plans with clear goals, metrics, and transparent reporting requirements, LWDBs could enhance their support for opportunity youth.

To ensure Texas maintains a robust workforce pipeline and a strong economy, it is crucial to implement policy reforms that enhance community engagement, increase fiscal transparency, and mandate strategic planning for OYYA inclusion. By doing so, we can improve coordination between economic development and workforce readiness, increase OYYA workforce participation, and ultimately secure Texas’ economic future.