Texas Teens Cover - Senate

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CHAPTER 6 JANUARY 2001
Policy Implication: Maintain adequate statistics and statewide program oversight
regarding youth workforce initiatives in Texas.
Policy Implication: Initiate a comprehensive effort leading to a plan to prevent the
projected demographic shift from reducing the state’s revenue and competitiveness
discussed in the Texas Strategic Economic Development Planning Commission
(TSEDPC) plan in 1998, which will also further strengthen Texas’ economic position.
The funding of a study to examine this key issue could come from a foundation. An
effective plan could help the state to prepare more easily to compete against other states,
regions, or continents for the advantage of hosting global markets, as it already does in
semiconductors and telecommunications.
Conclusion
Providing more resources for the development of the workforce is a positive step
since without a viable pool of workers, businesses will be denied sufficient
resources, which will impact their competitiveness and ultimately the state’s
economy and its citizens. What are the ramifications for Texas? If a company is
unable to get the workforce it needs in this highly competitive economy, it will
be forced to move to a location that will supply ample workers, be it China, Latin
America, or other locations away from Texas. The state cannot afford an
impression of inattentiveness to the needs of businesses, particularly since the
state makes a significant amount of its revenue from sales, utility, and franchise
taxes from the business sector.
Texas has also made great efforts to move from an oil and real estate-based
economy to a knowledge-based economy, where skilled and educated workers
are the key ingredients. The legislature created the TSEDPC to develop a
statewide economic development plan, a 10-year blueprint for maximizing
prosperity and ensuring global competitiveness in the state. Perhaps vigorous
implementation of this plan will resolve many of the issues discussed.
1 ETA 1999.
2 USDOL 2000b.
3 OTP 1997.
4 BLS 1999
5 Ibid.
6 Offer 1985, 11-12.
7 Texas Youth Commission, costs for incarceration of youth in 1998. Data provided by the Texas Youth
Commission.
8 TEA 1999c.
9 Burt 1998.
10 Holzer 1996.
11 Murdock et al. 1997, 108-109.
12 Job Corps 1999.
13 JTPA 2000.
14 Workforce 2000.
15 ETA 1999.
16 USDOL 2000b.
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SENATE RESEARCH CENTER Safe Passages: Texas Teens on the Road to Adulthood - 115