Labor Market Information

The North Texas Workforce Development Area (WDA) “Target Occupations” comprise the top high-growth, in-demand occupations for which the Board can dedicate Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) training resources.  Our WIOA Services, also known locally as the “North Texas Works Program,” is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor through the Texas Workforce Commission.

The Target Occupations List is identified along with the in-demand lists by using an analysis of occupational employment indicators for the 11 counties of North Texas: Archer, Baylor, Clay, Cottle, Foard, Hardeman, Jack, Montague, Wichita, Wilbarger, and Young Counties.

Boards are required to provide the labor market data and criteria used in making targeted occupation choices to show why the occupation is considered a “target” for investment of federal WIOA funding and identify whether it is a career pathway occupation.  The data and information used in this determination can be provided upon request.  The analysis may include, but is not limited to, local knowledge about the importance of an occupation in the workforce area, whether the occupation’s prevailing wage meets the economic self-sufficiency wage for North Texas, and additional information gained from local or regional labor market or occupational studies, industry or economic development partners, or employer surveys.

The Board relies on local knowledge from college and industry professionals and uses labor market data available through the following link to the Texas Workforce Commission’s Website: Labor Market Information | Texas Workforce Commission .

As of the March 23, 2023 revision of Target Occupations by the Workforce Solutions North Texas Board, the WIOA self-sufficiency wage for North Texas and minimum wage goal for WIOA participants post-exit from the program is $14.26 per hour or $29,660.80 per year for a 1-person household.  These wages reflect 200% of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Lower Living Standard Income Level (LLSIL) which is considered an “economic self-sufficiency wage.”

Additional information on WIOA program, policies, and guidance can be found on the Texas Workforce Commission website linked here.