AUSTIN, Texas—The Greater Austin Chamber, in conjunction with Workforce Solutions Capital Area (WFSCA), is partnering with The Graduate Network to encourage Austin-area business owners to complete the Bridging the Talent Gap employer survey by Dec. 7. The survey is available at https://bridgingthetalentgap.org/austin-employer-survey/.

The goal of the survey is to gather employer feedback on key challenges faced in identifying, retaining and developing talent needed to fill current and future jobs.

“We’ve worked hard over the last two decades to achieve one the nation’s lowest employment rates; but there is still plenty left for us to accomplish when it comes to upward mobility and improved economic status for the people that call our region home," said Senior Vice President, Advocacy and Education/Talent Development Drew Scheberle. "Through this survey, we’ll have the opportunity to hear directly from job creators in a way we never have before on the challenges and roadblocks they face when it comes to keeping and developing their talent to fill job openings both now and in the future.”

The Chamber and its partners will analyze survey results to better understand how the business community can work with Austin Community College (ACC) to improve credential degree or certificate completion among adults with some college credit but no degree.

The project complements ongoing efforts between the Chamber and ACC, supported by the Lumina Foundation, to re-engage adults who are close to degree completion but have discontinued their enrollment. Lumina Foundation designated Austin as a national talent hub and has helped support ongoing Chamber efforts to close equity and opportunity gaps by improving educational attainment for underrepresented and low-income residents.

The survey will also help support Austin’s Master Community Workforce Plan by informing efforts between Chamber partners and WFSCA to help unemployed and underemployed adults get the education or training they need to compete for open jobs and improve earning power.

“Recognizing the need to hire, retain and train a skilled workforce is a challenge felt by employers of all sizes in all industries, Workforce Solutions Capital Area is pleased to partner with the Chamber and The Graduate! Network on this initiative,” said Workforce Solutions Capital Area Chief Executive Officer Tamara Atkinson. “We look forward to hearing directly from employers across our region, including Chamber members, how the Austin/Travis County workforce and education community can better serve them. We are particularly interested in digging deeper into one of the lesser known benefits of companies: tuition assistance programs. These programs offer workers the opportunity to enter an entry-level occupation in a career pathway and gradually gain additional education and experience, all while working with the same employer. We are excited to learn what is working, what needs to be adjusted and what opportunities have we simply not yet explored.”

Survey results will be available in the spring.

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