Economic Outlook: Workforce Solutions Gulf Coast 2025 Insights

In this in-depth conversation, Juliet Stipeche, Executive Director of Workforce Solutions Gulf Coast—the largest workforce board in Texas—sits down with the Manager of Regional Economic Analysis, Parker Harvey to explore how data is driving smarter workforce investments across the region. With more than 3.5 million jobs and 150,000 employers in the Gulf Coast area, the challenge isn’t just filling positions—it’s about aligning training efforts with long-term economic goals. From healthcare and energy to advanced manufacturing and clean tech, Stipeche and Harvey detail how labor market insights shape the board’s high-skill, high-growth occupation list and inform regional planning efforts.

“Workforce development isn’t just about filling jobs,” said Stipeche. “It’s about making sure our region has the talent it needs to stay competitive and grow.” The video offers a rare inside look at how workforce boards balance immediate job demands with emerging trends, using real-time data and employer feedback to prioritize training programs and career pathways. But it also hints at the system’s challenges—especially in maintaining consistent engagement from employers and ensuring rural areas aren’t left behind. For smaller businesses in particular, access to this kind of targeted support can be the difference between staying competitive or falling behind. The conversation underscores the importance of data alignment, not just for jobseekers and businesses, but for the economic health of the entire Gulf Coast region.