By Rita Cook
Correspondent
Texas Metro News
AUSTIN – Texas Governor Greg Abbott launched a new Texas Jobs Council last week.
The new council should come as no surprise since Abbott reminded those in attendance at a Teamsters Local 745 meeting days after the initial launch that Texas has been named the number one state in America for the most new jobs, number one for business expansion and number one business climate in the United States.
The new council will serve as an advisory board to ensure Texans are prepared to fill Texas’ high demand jobs and to strengthen Texas’ workforce development initiatives.
The council held its inaugural meeting at the Governor’s Mansion with Abbott commenting “Texas right now is the hottest state in America for business and labor opportunities. For us to maintain our dominance, business and labor are working together to meet the high demand for high skilled labor, positions like electricians, pipe fitters, welders, plumbers, truckers, and a whole lot more. Today, we galvanized that partnership with the launch of the Texas Jobs Council.”
The Council’s focus will be to work on the executive actions put forth by the governor, which can immediately be executed by various state agencies. This will also be done to reduce regulatory burdens and red tape surrounding workforce development overall.
Abbott additionally tasked the council to determine key policy and legislative recommendations for him and the Legislature before the 90th Legislative Session, which begins in January 2027.
Later this year in November the Council will deliver a final report outlining the recommended executive actions and legislative proposals that will serve to strengthen Texas’ workforce development system.
Abbott was joined at the Governor’s Mansion by Plumbers Local Union 68 Business Manager Wayne Lord, Texas Association of Business Interim President Megan Mauro, Texas Workforce Commission Chairman Joe Esparza, and other business and labor leaders.
The appointments Abbott made to the Texas Jobs Council include Co-Chair, Brent Taylor VP South Teamsters Local 745 & Teamsters Joint Council 80; Co-Chair, Megan Mauro Interim President Texas Association of Business; Tony Bennett President Texas Association of Manufacturers; Todd Staples President Texas Oil and Gas Association; Hector Rivero President Texas Chemistry Council; Scott Norman President Texas Association of Builders; Robert Mele President Teamsters Local 988; Robert Wayne Lord Business Manager Plumbers Local Union 68; Alan Robb Assistant General International Longshoremen’s Assoc.; Lacy Wolf Local 22 President Heat and Frost Insulators Local Union 22; Mark Maher Jr. Business Manager International Union of Operating Engineers 450, and Bryan Edwards Business Manager Pipefitters Local Union 211.
Abbott’s remarks at the Teamsters Local 745 also included his comments “Here in Texas, we literally are building and manufacturing the future of the entire world. For us to maintain that dominance, business and labor are working together to meet the high demand for high-skilled labor. We stand united on all fronts of the business sector to keep Texas number one for business, number one for jobs, and number one for workforce training.”
Taylor said he believes the new council will send a clear message to Texans about the Governor’s strong commitment to expanding economic opportunity for everyone through workforce training and development.”
Mauro added “TAB is honored to help lead the Governor’s Texas Jobs Council. As our state continues to experience unprecedented economic growth and create new jobs, state leaders and employers have a responsibility to work together and ensure our workforce has the skills and training needed to compete in the 21st century economy. We are deeply grateful to Governor Abbott for kickstarting this important initiative and look forward to continuing our critical stakeholder engagement efforts to keep Texas the best state in the nation for employers and employees.”
Abbott believes the council’s mission is unified and will benefit all Texans. “A mission that will keep Texas number one for business, keep Texas number one for jobs, and keep Texas number one for workforce training, ensuring great careers for generations of Texans,” he concluded.
