There will be more than 74,000 annual job openings in middle skills occupations available in Houston between now and 2017 according to the Greater Houston Partnership. Help wanted signs are popping up all over town, with employers struggling to fill key positions.

Middle skills jobs are defined as generally requiring some significant education and training beyond high school but less than a bachelor’s degree. These jobs represent 41 percent of all jobs in the Houston region.

Lone Star College is taking the challenge head on: preparing tomorrow’s technical workforce today by offering high-level training to teach necessary job skills employers are seeking.

“As a part of this community, it’s important for us to assist area employers by helping to train tomorrow’s workforce today,” said Stephen Head, LSC chancellor. 

“In the past five years alone, we have seen the local workforce grow by 9 percent,” Head added. “We are working right now to train more students to help meet those specific needs.”

Fueled by the energy boom and the investment that comes with it, the skills gap is a result of changing expertise due to technological advancements, aging demographics and the fact that many students often choose their field of study based on personal interest, rather than labor market needs.

It is estimated that 63 percent of all jobs will require education or training beyond high school by 2018. LSC partners with companies like FMC Technologies, Inc., Parker Drilling, Patterson-UTI Drilling Company, LLC, Baker Hughes, and Stewart & Stevenson, as well as professional organizations like the International Association of Drilling Contractors and others, to ensure students are using the most current industry-standard equipment and software.  

In addition, as part of the Lone Star College 2014 Bond Referendum on the Nov. 4 election ballot, funding is included to help address workforce needs by creating new Advanced Technology Centers that focus on: Computer Information Technology and Visual Communications, Industrial/Commercial Construction and HVACR, Process and Lab Technology - Oil/Gas/Water, Transportation & Logistics, and a Drilling Platform Training Center to provide oil and gas industry training.

The bond referendum also includes funding for renovations to current workforce education facilities, including additional space for health care training like the build out of the LSC-Tomball Health Science Center near the Tomball Regional Hospital campus.

A recent report released by Susan Combs, Texas comptroller for public accounts, reiterated that Texans can capitalize on the jobs that currently exist in the market by obtaining a college degree, a technical education or an industry-based certification.

From the oil and gas and manufacturing industries, to health care professionals and first responders, LSC is the college of choice with affordable, high-quality education that directly benefits the local economy.

LSC adds $3.1 billion in economic impact directly into the local community each year, with $2.8 billion in increased earnings for LSC students. And 91 percent of students stay in the community after attending LSC which leads to a stronger tax base and more robust economy.

Lone Star College System has been opening doors to a better community for more than 40 years. Founded in 1973, LSCS remains steadfast in its commitment to student success and credential completion.  Today, with almost 83,000 students in credit classes, and a total enrollment of more than 95,000, Lone Star College System is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and one of the fastest-growing community college systems in the nation.  Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., is the chancellor of LSCS, which consists of six colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, LSC-Tomball and LSC-University Park, seven centers, LSC-University Center at Montgomery, LSC-University Center at University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.

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