WHAT ABOUT JOBS? 12%
WHY CAN’T SOME PEOPLE FINDWORK? According to Tamara Atkinson, CEO of Workforce Solutions Capital Area, the issue is a skills gap—which means some employers are asking for more education than the job seekers have.
70% of unemployed Austin area residents have less than an associate degree
Employment data shows that the overall rate of Austin area residents who are employed is increasing faster than it did pre-pandemic.
7.5% Nov.
AUSTIN ORDERS COVID 19 LOCKDOWNS
2% 8% 6% 0 10% 4%
54% of jobs in Texas are considered middle skilled level—meaning requires more than a high school diploma but less than a four-year degree
*
2019
2020
2021
45% of Texas workers meet those requirements.
-2% -4% -6% -8% -10% -12%
SOURCE: WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS CAPITAL AREA COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
EXTRA FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS END
EXTRA STATE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS END
9.5% April
IS PAY INCREASING? Data shows that the average income for many professions in Austin has increased substantially since 2019; however, some experts warn that wage growth is hampered by in ation and a ordability issues in Austin.
*DECEMBER 2021 IS PRELIMINARY DATA
SOURCE: U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
“They’re out there somewhere” Anthony Zertuche, a plant man- ager at Austin PreStress, which man- ufactures construction supplies in East Austin, said his company raised starting pay from $11 to $15.50 an hour, or more with experience. He said the job is physically demanding and some candidates leave after the rst day because they can make the same pay working in fast-food or retail. “My boss asks me where everyone is at, and I have no answer,” Zertuche said. “They’re out there somewhere.” Zertuche said the plant has about 27 of the 42 employees it needs. However, he said they cannot a ord to keep raising the starting pay if they want to o er competitive prices. Scott Hentschel, the hospitality partner of Karlin Real Estate and member of the Austin Chamber of Commerce, has recently been try- ing to hire for The Pitch—an open- air food court space in Northeast Austin. “It’s been terrible; there is no one out there,” Hentschel said. Hentschel said is guaranteeing $20 an hour for servers for the rst 90 days—until he determines a pay scale.
that those are the jobs that you can get, they don’t pay enough to be able to live in Austin any more than they would pay enough to be able to a ord to live in Los Angeles, or Chicago, or Houston or Dallas or New York City,” Mateer said. Atkinson said that 70% of individ- uals unemployed in the Austin area have less than an associate degree. Data shows that 54% of jobs in Texas are considered middle skilled level— requiring more than a high school diploma but less than a four-year degree—and 45% of Texas workers meet those requirements. Atkinson said Workforce Solutions is focused on helping people navigate barriers to employment and educa- tion, including accessing child care and scholarships. Kevin Brackmeyer, the CEO of Skill- point Alliance, a nonpro t workforce development organization, said he is seeing a lot of interest both from potential students and employers. “By providing free and rapid train- ing, we are helping employers close that skills gap and at the same time helping students nd higher-paying jobs,” Brackmeyer said. He said many students are graduat- ing with job o ers.
WAGE GROWTH 18.99% 14.15% 7.14% 15% 7.86%
2019
2021
Fast-food workers
Retail salespersons
Customer service representatives
Heavy and semitrailer truck drivers
Registered nurses
Software developers
10.77% $140K
0 $20K $40K $60K $80K $100K $120K
Average yearly income
SOURCE: WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS CAPITAL AREA COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
“Structurally, we’ve lost a lot of people who used to make a living in the hospitality industry,” Hentschel said. “Either, because of COVID[-19] or everything else, they decided to get a di erent job.” Ginn said two challenges employ- ers are facing are a high quit rate and a pool of workers who chose not to return to the economy. He said many sectors are seeing the cost of items outstrip what consum- ers can a ord and that the e ect lead
to a recession. Hockenyos said the coming months will show what the commu- nity is willing to pay. “Will we pay $25 for a cheese- burger?” Hockenyos asked. “I used to laugh about that … but I’ve seen a cheeseburger on an Austin menu for $23.95. We are there.”
For more information, visit communityimpact.com .
1937 Twin Liquors – originally Jabour’s Package Store – opens on 6th Street in Downtown Austin, TX.
1983 Twin Liquors begins to supply wholesale spirits, beer, & wine to bars & restaurants in Downtown Austin.
Twin Liquors expands into San Antonio, San Marcos, & the Hill Country with 50+ stores.
2022 Twin Liquors
celebrates their 85th Anniversary
2000s
1982 David Jabour & Margaret Jabour, rebrand the business as Twin Liquors in honor of their father, Theodore, who was a twin.
1995-1997 ‘95 : First Distillery permit is issued to Tito’s Vodka .
2020 Twin Liquors celebrates
o
2010s Twin Liquors expands into the Houston area, and into the Dallas area with the Sigel’s brand.
For 85 years, your neighborhood Twin Liquors has been giving excellent customer service and welcoming Texans like family!
opening their 100th location in Lubbock, TX.
‘97 : First case of Tito’s hits shelves in Austin, TX!
o
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CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION • FEBRUARY 2022
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