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Last week, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) took an important step toward strengthening Texas’ skilled trades workforce by approving the new Journeyman Electrician Education Program (JEEP).

The decision marks another example of Texas moving proactively to meet growing workforce demand and modernize pathways into high-paying careers that power the state’s economy.

Under JEEP, Texans pursuing a Journeyman Electrician license can now count a Texas State Technical College (TSTC) credential toward 4,000 of the required 8,000 on-the-job training hours. By leveraging TSTC’s state-of-the-art facilities and nationally recognized safety standards, Texas is creating a faster, more effective pathway into one of the state’s most in-demand professions.

The new program also addresses a significant challenge within the current licensing process. Before the most recent reforms, aspiring electricians often had to wait until the end of their training journey to take the written exam, contributing to a staggering 73 percent fail rate in 2024. Under the updated framework approved by TDLR, participants can take the written exam at any stage of the qualification process, helping better align classroom instruction with testing and improving outcomes for future tradesmen and tradeswomen.

The timing could not be more important.

The United States is facing a major shortage of electrical workers, with estimates projecting a gap of up to 224,000 workers by 2030. Meanwhile, Texas continues to lead the nation in economic growth, industrial expansion, infrastructure investment, and energy development. From advanced manufacturing and semiconductors to data centers and energy projects, demand for skilled labor is accelerating rapidly.

Texas is responding accordingly.

Earlier this month, the BlackRock Foundation announced a $30 million investment in Texas skilled trades training as part of its broader $100 million Future Builders Initiative. The announcement was made alongside Governor Greg Abbott at TSTC’s Waco campus and represents another major vote of confidence in Texas’ workforce strategy.

Last fall, Texas voters also overwhelmingly approved Proposition 1, creating a permanent $850 million endowment for the TSTC system to support equipment upgrades, campus infrastructure, and long-term workforce training capacity.

Taken together, these efforts go beyond workforce policy, as they represent strategic economic development investments designed to ensure Texas remains the best state for business and continues leading the nation in growth, innovation, and opportunity.

The Texas Association of Business (TAB) strongly supports policies that expand workforce opportunity, strengthen the talent pipeline, and connect Texans to good-paying careers. It is also why TAB is honored to co-chair Governor Abbott’s Texas Jobs Council – a statewide effort focused on streamlining job training programs and building the workforce needed for the future of the Texas economy.

Texas has always been powered by builders, makers, and innovators. Today, the state is investing in the next generation of craftsmen and craftswomen who will help power America’s economic future.

 -Gabriela von zur Muehlen, Senior Vice President & Chief Policy Officer, Texas Association of Business

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