South Texas Builds the Workforce Behind Its Industrial Future

South Texas’ industrial expansion is putting workforce readiness at the center of regional growth. At the State of the Regional Workforce Conference, manufacturing, education, economic development, and state leaders gathered to discuss how to turn investments in aerospace, shipbuilding, and energy into skilled careers and lasting opportunities for Rio Grande Valley residents.

That connection between industrial growth and workforce readiness brought business, education, economic development, and state leaders together at the State of the Regional Workforce Conference, organized by Workforce Solutions Lower Rio Grande Valley and Workforce Solutions Cameron.

The gathering focused on aligning training with employers’ needs, expanding access to skilled careers, and helping communities across the Valley benefit from investment already underway and projects still in development.

Among the attendees were:

•         Joe Esparza,chairman of the Texas Workforce Commission and commissioner representing employers.

•         Daniel Rivera, executive director, Elsa EDC.

•         Drew Lentz, co-founder of Code RGV.

•         Alberto Treviño III, Texas Workforce Commission commissioner representing labor.

•         Julian Alvarez III, executive vice president and director of community relations at Lone Star National Bank, who served as emcee.

•         Frank Almaraz, CEO of Workforce Solutions Lower Rio Grande Valley.

•         Rafael Vela, CEO of Workforce Solutions Cameron.

•         Gilbert Salinas, president and CEO of the Greater Brownsville Economic Development Corporation.

•         Elizabeth Suarez, president and CEO of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce and McAllen Economic Development Corporation.

•         Dr. Yu Liu, associate professor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, who presented the regional economic and workforce outlook.

•         Mike willis, STMA Executive Director.

The conference also featured Daniel Rivera, executive director of the Elsa Economic Development Corporation, and technology entrepreneur Drew Lentz, whose presentations addressed artificial intelligence and its implications for businesses and workers. Representatives of South Texas College, Texas State Technical College, economic development organizations, workforce boards, and community partners were acknowledged during the opening remarks.

Esparza emphasized the importance of employers helping shape workforce programs. Local boards provide the practical knowledge needed to connect state resources with the skills businesses actually require, he explained.

His remarks highlighted career exploration, apprenticeships, internships, and opportunities for people to earn while they learn. He also addressed childcare and the need for better coordination across agencies, issues that directly affect whether residents can enter training, accept employment, and remain in the workforce.

For South Texas manufacturers, those priorities have practical consequences: a stronger supply of skilled workers, more effective training partnerships, and greater capacity to support expansion.

Dr. Yo Liu’s presentation illustrated both the Valley’s potential and the work needed to realize it. According to the figures presented, Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy counties had approximately 1.44 million residents in 2025,with 27.9%younger than 18. The McAllen and Brownsville metropolitan areas together accounted for approximately 467,000 payroll jobs.

That young population offers a substantial foundation for future industrial employment. However, Liu also identified gaps in educational attainment, income, and labor force participation that require coordinated attention.

Her recommendations included expanding apprenticeships and shorter technical credentials, improving access to training, and preparing workers to move from temporary construction assignments into permanent operating positions. For large industrial developments, that transition is essential to creating lasting economic benefits.

Salinas brought the discussion into focus with an overview of Brownsville’s industrial expansion. His presentation highlighted SpaceX, LNG development, Saronic’s shipbuilding project, Linde, Superior Manufacturing, and Amazon, illustrating the range of manufacturing, energy, supplier, and logistics activity shaping the area.

He described a portfolio of existing projects and prospective developments representing approximately $64 billion in capital investment and more than 46,000 direct jobs. Those figures encompass projects at different stages of development and should be understood as a broader development outlook, rather than jobs already filled or positions immediately available.

Saronic provided a particularly significant example of the workforce opportunity. The conference presentation outlined approximately $3.2billion in investment and a projected 10,000 direct jobs over ten years, with demand spanning welders, pipe fitters, riggers, engineers, programmers, and technicians.

“This is our shot. This is our opportunity,” Salinas told the audience while discussing the potential to create those careers locally.

The presentation also extended the workforce conversation to artificial intelligence, highlighting business applications, employee training, and the need to adapt as technology changes daily tasks. For industrial employers and their suppliers, that adds another dimension to workforce preparation: technical proficiency must increasingly be accompanied by digital skills and the ability to learn new systems.

South Texas has a compelling case for business investment: a young workforce, expanding industrial capacity, and access to markets on both sides of the border. By aligning training with industry needs, the region can turn those advantages into stronger businesses, skilled careers, and lasting prosperity. For companies looking to build, expand, and compete, South Texas offers the opportunity to help shape and benefit from the next chapter of American manufacturing.