Vocational Training Revolution: How Soft Skills Could Close America’s Workforce Gap
WorkTexas, founded by education entrepreneur Mike Feinberg in 2020, has identified a crucial economic insight: the technical skills gap may be overshadowed by a more significant soft skills deficit.
“The technical skills are about 30% of what employers want,” Feinberg explains. “The other 70% is people who get to work on time and can work on a team.”
This finding has significant implications for workforce development policy. While government initiatives often focus on technical training and certification, WorkTexas suggests equal attention should be paid to workplace readiness.
The program partners directly with 148 employers to design curriculum meeting actual market needs. “We start with the employer,” says Yazmin Guerra, workforce development leader for WorkTexas and the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department.
Results are promising: approximately 70% of graduates secure employment with average starting wages of $19.10 hourly—creating taxpayers from individuals who might otherwise depend on social services.
Perhaps most significant is the program’s long-term approach. WorkTexas maintains five-year relationships with graduates, providing ongoing support critical for retention and advancement.
“A lot of people we train are one flat tire away from disaster,” notes Feinberg. “You’re not going to do well in your job if you’re homeless or hungry, or your car stops working.”
For policymakers, the WorkTexas model offers valuable lessons as America confronts both skilled labor shortages and declining workforce participation rates.
By addressing both technical competencies and essential workplace behaviors, such programs could help close persistent gaps between employer needs and available workers—offering economic mobility pathways that benefit both individuals and the broader economy.