Center for a Competitive Workforce
The focus of the Center for a Competitive Workforce is to ensure that businesses have access- today and tomorrow- to an educated skilled workforce, through policy initiatives, business outreach, and a strong network of strategic partners; including Arlington ISD, Tarrant County College, UT-Arlington, and Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County. The Center promotes high educational standards and effective workforce training systems so they are aligned with each other and today’s rigorous business demands
National Initiatives
Arlington’s Center for Continuing Education and Workforce Development has been recognized nationally as a participant in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and National Association of Manufacturer’s Workforce Innovations Network II (WINsII). The Center for Continuing Education and Workforce Development, located at 140 W. Mitchell, resides on the campus of the University of Texas at Arlington and houses the following partners on site:
- Texas Workforce Commission
- Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County (Workforce Board)
- University of Texas at Arlington Continuing Education & Human Resources Dept.
- Tarrant County College Small Business Development Resource Center
- Tarrant County College Adult Education
- Fort Worth ISD
- The Women’s Center
- Goodwill Industries
- Fort Worth Boys & Girls Clubs
This is a model for the rest of the nation exemplifying how an employer-driven workforce system should operate. The Education & Workforce Development Council will serve as an advisory group to help align the services and programs to meet the region’s employer needs.
For more information on any of the Quality Workforce Initiatives please call 817-543-4293 or email
Education & Workforce Development
The acquisition, development and retention of a quality workforce remains the number one issue of our local businesses. Education and workforce development provides the infrastructure for all of our efforts to serve the business community with their workforce issues. To meet these needs, the Chamber created the Center for a Competitive Workforce. The mission of the Center for a Competitive Workforce is to “Build a quality employer’s workforce by linking employers to public education, higher education, and Adult/Workforce training organizations, to meet acquisition, development, and retention requirements.”
The key initiatives of the Center for a Competitive Workforce impact our workforce locally, regionally and nationally.
Arlington Workforce Partners Forum
The Workforce Partners Forum is held monthly at the Center for Continuing Education and Workforce Development for employers with available jobs to fill and job applicant providers. Employers present their benefits, salaries, schedules, educational and skill requirements and work/study programs to the applicant providers for potiential matches.
This program also provides educators with an opportunity to hear real-time employment needs and an opportunity to network with these employers and applicant providers.
HR Roundtable
The HR Roundtable is a valuable luncheon for our member Human Resource Directors. These semi-annual luncheons are an opportunity to develop strong relationships among HR professionals in the Arlington area so that mutual experiences and expertise can be shared.
Job Fairs
The Chambers Education & Workforce Development Council ensures that Arlington employers are aware of all job fair opportunities. Also, employees that have been displaced as a result of a business downsizing or closing are put in contact with the Tarrant County Rapid Response Team who coordinates the events that attempt to place these employees in new positions before they are officially unemployed.
Regional Partnerships
Regionally, the Chamber is working in partnership with the Fort Worth and Dallas Chambers of Commerce and the three local Workforce Development Boards as a part of the Regional Workforce Leadership Council. Through the RWLC, employers, educators and workforce development professionals exchange ideas and information that will improve the abilities of each group to meet the expectations of developing a quality workforce in our region.
Through this collaboration, target industry clusters have formed to identify critical workforce needs in each industry. Current industry clusters include healthcare, aerospace, semiconductor, and advanced manufacturing. Others will develop as interest and champions are cultivated.