Only 32% of Dallas County residents ages 25-34 earned an annual living wage of $60,651 in 2023, according to the Commit Partnership. (The Communities Foundation and Commit are supporters of the Future of North Texas initiative at The Dallas Morning News.)<\/p>\n
Here are some key takeaways on Dallas\u2019 workforce dilemma.<\/p>\n
The Education Lab<\/p>\n
By signing up, you agree to our\u00a0Terms of Service<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Privacy Policy.<\/a><\/p>\n Homegrown potential Lynn McBee, president and CEO of Young Women\u2019s Preparatory Network and Dallas’ workforce czar, is welcomed on stage during an event hosted by Educate Texas at Communities Foundation of Texas on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025 in Dallas. <\/p>\n Angela Piazza \/ Staff Photographer<\/p>\n Although people move to Dallas for job opportunities, the \u201csobering\u201d reality is that four out of 10 Dallas adults are low-income, said Lynn McBee, the city\u2019s workforce development czar. <\/p>\n Many of these adults work multiple jobs, but struggle to cover basic living expenses, she said.<\/p>\n \u201cThis isn\u2019t about a lack of work ethic,\u201d McBee said. \u201cThe problem is that until recently, our systems have not been designed to meet people where they are and to anticipate and remove the barriers that stand in the way of success.\u201d<\/p>\n Child care, transportation and housing<\/p>\n Those barriers include a lack of affordable child care, limited transportation options and housing instability, McBee said.<\/p>\n Without accessible child care, it\u2019s hard for parents to take classes or training that could lead to better jobs, McBee said. Limited transportation cuts people off from job sites, training centers and schools that could prepare residents for the workforce, she said. <\/p>\n Furthermore, \u201cwhen families are moving from place to place, education takes a backseat to survival,\u201d McBee said.<\/p>\n Broken education pipeline<\/p>\n For many residents, the education-to-career pipeline is broken or was never fully built, McBee said. <\/p>\n High schools need to commit to college training or industry credential programs designed to prevent young people from dropping out or graduating from school only to obtain low wage jobs with no upward mobility, she said.<\/p>\n Sabrina Hodge (left), executive director of student leadership and success at the University of North Texas at Dallas, listens to Fallan Frank, deputy director of higher education and workforce at Educate Texas, speak during a panel at an event hosted by Educate Texas at Communities Foundation of Texas on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025 in Dallas.<\/p>\n Angela Piazza \/ Staff Photographer<\/p>\n Schools need to provide students access to career exploration opportunities as early as elementary school, said Fallan Frank<\/a>, deputy director of higher education and workforce at Educate Texas, an initiative of Communities Foundation of Texas.<\/p>\n That matters partly because students don\u2019t know what opportunities exist. \u201cBefore high school, I never even thought about my future. I kind of just figured I would go wherever the wind takes me,\u201d said Elijah Armstrong, a student at Juan Seguin High School in Arlington.<\/p>\n The 16-year-old junior said he\u2019s now dual-enrolled at Tarrant County College and seeking an engineering career.<\/p>\n Schools also need to promote internship opportunities for students to identify interests in high-demand fields, especially in jobs that may only require industry certifications instead of four-year degrees, workforce advocates said.<\/p>\n Elijah Armstrong, of Juan Seguin High School and Tarrant County College, speaks during a student and alumni panel at an event hosted by Educate Texas at Communities Foundation of Texas on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025 in Dallas.<\/p>\n Angela Piazza \/ Staff Photographer<\/p>\n J. Maria Martineau, assistant vice president of community engagement at Medical City Healthcare, said workforce shortages across various industries are due partly to an aging workforce and retirements.<\/p>\n \u201cThe individuals that are coming behind them may not necessarily have the experience necessary but through programs like P-TECH, they can gain the skills they need through hands-on learning at an earlier age,\u201d she told The News.<\/p>\n Economic urgency<\/p>\n Bolstering outcomes among Dallas natives is crucial as more people move into North Texas, workforce development advocates said. <\/p>\n Dallas historically relied on importing talent for high-demand fields such as teaching, health care, manufacturing and STEM, largely because the region was affordable, said Jarrad Toussant<\/a>, senior vice president of education and workforce at the Dallas Regional Chamber. (The DRC is a supporter of the Future of North Texas initiative at The News.)<\/p>\n![\"Lynn](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/D7MSRAETDZEH5B6XX2KQK6ONTE.jpg\")
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