Baseline: Building a 21st Century

Workforce for the Houston Region

Manufacturing, energy, healthcare, transportation are

critical components of the Houston economy

Source: Brookings analysis of Moody’s Analytics data. 0 3 6 9 12 15 18

Share of Total Employment by Industry Sector, 2012

n=2,734,392

Most Specialized Sub-Sectors by Employment, 2012

Health Care and Social Assistance

Retail Trade

Manufacturing

Hospitality

Prof. Services

Admin.

Construction

Wholesale Trade

Transport.

Other

Oil and gas extraction

Pipeline transportation

Support for mining activities

Petroleum and coal products manufacturing

Water transportation

Heavy and civil engineering construction

Machinery manufacturing

Air transportation

Support activities for transportation

Chemical manufacturing

Funds; trusts; and other financial vehicles

Fabricated metal product manufacturing

Construction of buildings

Repair and maintenance

Merchant wholesalers; durable goods

Location Quotient

Manufacturing, energy, and healthcare account for

675,000+ jobs, one quarter of Houston’s employment

base – two in tradable sectors

Source: Brookings analysis of Moody’s Analytics data.

Houston is a major exporter – tradable sectors of

petrochemicals and machinery manufacturing drive

performance

Source: Brookings, ExportNation 2012

Source: 2011ACS 1-year estimates microdata, accessed via IPUMS.org

Energy and Health Care workers have high levels of

education. Manufacturing skill demands hidden by

long-time incumbent workers, and will need more

educated replacements.

27%

22%

47%

20%

23%

23%

7%

13%

6%

46%

43%

24%

The Houston region’s job openings demand

high levels of educational attainment

36%

29%

16%

Job openings All adults Unemployed workers

Source: Brookings analysis of Help Wanted Online and U.S. Census Bureau data

About one third of Houston’s jobs are in

STEM-focused fields

Houston MSA All MSAs

30%

26%

Source: Brookings analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data

Houston’s jobs are above-average in every

aspect of STEM content

All Metros

Houston

27%

34%

29%

32%

22%

33%

23%

29%

Science

Computer

Engineering

Math

Source: Brookings analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data

Houston MSA ranks 5th in population, but 33rd in

share of STEM degrees among the top 100 metros

Source: 2011 ACS 1-year estimates

Educational attainment in Houston mirrors

national trends but is a bit lower than peer metros

Source: 2011 ACS 1-year estimates

43%

38%

39%

39%

42%

22%

21%

20%

23%

20%

7%

7%

7%

6%

7%

29%

35%

34%

31%

31%

Source: 2011ACS 1-year estimates microdata, accessed via IPUMS.org

Latinos make up almost 50 percent of youth, compared to

1/3 of adults, indicating a growing presence in the region

Latinos have the lowest educational levels

30%

68%

41%

29%

13%

15%

30%

24%

8%

5%

7%

8%

50%

12%

22%

39%

Source: 2011ACS 1-year estimates microdata, accessed via IPUMS.org

Younger residents of all races/ethnicities have higher

educational levels than older residents, but significant

racial/ethnic disparities remain

Source: 2011ACS 1-year estimates microdata, accessed via IPUMS.org

Higher educated residents are much less likely to be

unemployed

Source: 2011ACS 1-year estimates

10.1%

7.1%

3.6%

Workforce Development Action:

Considerations to Achieve Near-Term Impacts

Tailored – building on distinct regional industry profiles,

demographics, labor markets.

Integrated / Collaborative – partner across multiple delivery

systems, but with common objectives and measures.

Business-Led – consistently and methodically engaging the

private sector for direction, feedback, and co-delivery.

v i s i t m e t r o :

www.brookings.edu/metro