Future Ready NextForce

Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area

Showcasing the local workforce development efforts building the highly skilled multi-generational “NextForce” Central Texas communities need to compete globally and remain “Future Ready.” The "Future Ready Nextforce" Podcast is brought to you by Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area, Developing Talent for Employers by Coaching Texans to Employment.

Episodes

  1. Jul 20

    Job Fair-Con Preview with the Texas Veterans Commission

    Why should veterans, transitioning service members, military spouses, job seekers, and employers attend? What free career resources are available long after the event ends? In this episode of the FutureReady NextForce Podcast, Kelly Moreno, Chief Solutions Officer for Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area (WSRCA), is joined by Isaac Marquez-Diaz and Keith Callands from the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) to preview one of Central Texas' premier hiring events while highlighting the employment services available to the military community throughout the year. Together, they discuss:  What makes the upcoming Job Fair-Con unique  Why veterans are such valuable employees  How employers can connect with highly skilled veteran talent  Career resources available through the Texas Veterans Commission and WSRCA  Tips to help job seekers get the most from the event  How military spouses and transitioning service members can successfully navigate the civilian workforce Whether you're looking for your next opportunity, preparing to transition out of military service, hiring talented employees, or simply exploring workforce resources available in Central Texas, this episode is full of practical advice you can put to work immediately. Job Fair-Con 2026 📅 Wednesday, July 22, 2026 🕙 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. 📍 Kalahari Convention Center 3001 Kalahari Blvd., Suite 5 (Lower Level) Round Rock, TX 78665 Job Fair-Con is free to attend and open to veterans, transitioning service members, military spouses, all job seekers, their families, and employers. More than 200 employers and community organizations will be on hand with job opportunities, career resources, resume assistance, and workforce services. Register for Job Fair-Con 🎟️ https://bit.ly/wsrcajobfaircon Learn More Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area: https://workforcesolutionsrca.comCareerReady Central Texas:  https://careerreadyctx.comTexas Veterans Commission:  https://www.tvc.texas.govOur Thanks to Our Podcast Sponsor The FutureReady NextForce Podcast is proudly sponsored by IBEW Local 520. Their commitment to workforce development, registered apprenticeships, and skilled trades helps make these conversations possible while supporting the next generation of Central Texas workers. Learn more about IBEW Local 520: https://www.ibew520.org/ Subscribe to FutureReady NextForce Don't forget to follow FutureReady NextForce on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode exploring the people, partnerships, and ideas shaping the future of work across Central Texas. FutureReady NextForce is proudly produced by Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area and sponsored by IBEW Local 520, supporting workforce development, apprenticeships, and skilled careers across Central Texas. About FutureReady NextForce FutureReady NextForce is the official podcast of Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area (WSRCA), exploring the trends, partnerships, and people shaping the future of work across Central Texas. Each episode features conversations with workforce leaders, educators, employers, and community partners working to connect people with careers, businesses with talent, and communities with opportunity. 🌐 Learn more: https://workforcesolutionsrca.com

    Job Fair-Con Preview with the Texas Veterans Commission
  2. Mar 19

    2026 Workforce Forecast & Future Skills

    Central Texas is growing fast. But what does that mean for jobs, skills, and the future workforce? In this episode of the FutureReady NextForce Podcast, leaders from Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area talk about why workforce forecasting matters now and how employers, workers, and communities can prepare for the future of work. As industries evolve and the region continues to grow, planning ahead is no longer optional. Workforce forecasting helps communities anticipate workforce needs, align training with real jobs, and help people build skills that will remain valuable in a changing economy. In this conversation, the team breaks down: • What workforce forecasting actually means • Why future skills matter more than ever • The challenges employers are facing right now • How workers can stay competitive in a changing job market • How Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area supports employers and jobseekers across the region You will also hear how the FutureReady NextForce Podcast will explore workforce issues this season through leadership conversations, real stories from across Central Texas, and insights from the people building the region’s workforce. For more information about our services, please visit www.workforcesolutionsrca.com About FutureReady NextForce FutureReady NextForce is the official podcast of Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area (WSRCA), exploring the trends, partnerships, and people shaping the future of work across Central Texas. Each episode features conversations with workforce leaders, educators, employers, and community partners working to connect people with careers, businesses with talent, and communities with opportunity. 🌐 Learn more: https://workforcesolutionsrca.com

    2026 Workforce Forecast & Future Skills
  3. 06/28/2023

    What is the Solution to the Child Care Challenge in Central Texas?

    A report released this year by the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Women’s Bureau revealed a striking dilemma that many Central Texas families already know: Access to high-quality child care is vital to the success of our workforce, but the cost of early-learning programs is often untenable for families across all care types, age groups, and county population sizes.  Families with younger children across the United States pay a lot of money for child care. Whether that care is focused on full-day early learning for infants and toddlers, or after-school care for children up to age 12, a large share of a family’s income goes to paying for child care services. How do we better empower families in Central Texas to upskill and pursue careers in high demand while they are struggling to identify affordable child care arrangements with high-quality providers focused on developing the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development of children? Join Future Ready NextForce Podcast Host Diane Tackett, Chief Operating Officer with Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area (WSRCA), and her guests, Paul Fletcher, Chief Executive Officer with WSRCA, Madison Mattise, Director of Pre-K Partnerships with the United Way for Greater Austin, and Butch Aggen, Owner of the Goddard School of Cedar Park, as they identify existing barriers to success that working families are facing as they look to enroll their children in care, as well as opportunities and solutions available to help the entire family succeed. About FutureReady NextForce FutureReady NextForce is the official podcast of Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area (WSRCA), exploring the trends, partnerships, and people shaping the future of work across Central Texas. Each episode features conversations with workforce leaders, educators, employers, and community partners working to connect people with careers, businesses with talent, and communities with opportunity. 🌐 Learn more: https://workforcesolutionsrca.com

    What is the Solution to the Child Care Challenge in Central Texas?

About

Showcasing the local workforce development efforts building the highly skilled multi-generational “NextForce” Central Texas communities need to compete globally and remain “Future Ready.” The "Future Ready Nextforce" Podcast is brought to you by Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area, Developing Talent for Employers by Coaching Texans to Employment.