Sunday, November 22, 1998

Report shows that Texas needs to improve quality of workforce

By ANNA M. TINSLEY

Scripps Howard Austin Bureau

AUSTIN -- Improving education and boosting workforce training would make Texas more competitive in the global marketplace, a new report released Friday said.

The report, compiled by the Strategic Economic Development Planning Commission, shows that the skills of the state's workforce don't adequately meet the needs of employers. It also shows that Texas' educational system is disconnected from the business community.

"We believe this strategic plan has successfully identified the areas where the state should focus its economic development efforts," said Commission Chairman F.L. "Steve" Stephens of San Angelo.

"Texas has done a great job in recent years of improving the business environment," he said. "Now the private sector is telling us that their fate and ours rests with the quality of our workforce."

The commission was appointed by Gov. George W. Bush to make recommendations to improve the business climate of Texas.

In compiling the report, commissioners heard testimony from about 100 witnesses and studied more than 33 companies.

Suggestions in the report, which will be presented to lawmakers during the session that starts Jan. 12, include:

-- Making education and workforce development the state's No. 1 economic development priority.

"The top priority for Texas is building its workforce -- a challenge that requires action at all levels of the state's educational and workforce training institutions," according to the report. "A knowledgeable and skilled workforce is the greatest economic development tool the state can acquire and will rank Texas favorably with other internationally competitive regions."

-- Encouraging more research and development.

-- Making Texas the transportation and information center of the Western Hemisphere -- allowing for the efficient movement of goods, capital and information throughout the world.

-- Developing an economic development marketing strategy that drives the state's national and international business development efforts.

-- Creating a high-growth economic strategy that includes all regions of the state.

"The success of the Texas economy will depend on our ability to educate our children and give them the skills they will need to succeed in a global marketplace," Bush said. "We want to attract the high-wage, high-skills jobs of the 21st century that will lead to opportunity and prosperity for all Texans.

"The Texas Strategic Economic Planning Commission has done excellent work in pointing the way for our state's economic development efforts," Bush said.

The report can be found on the Internet at http://www.governor.state.tx.us.

Scripps Howard Austin Bureau writer Anna M. Tinsley can be reached at 512-478-9644 or by e-mail at tinsleya@scripps.com.