John Hryhorchuk, the senior vice president of policy and advocacy at Texas 2036, said Texas needs to ensure its native workforce has the skills to fill future jobs while addressing key infrastructure challenges like energy and water to sustain long-term economic growth and affordability. Hryhorchuk was a guest on a recent episode of the Texas Talks Podcast.

“We need to have a qualified workforce for the jobs of the future, but also make sure that Texans, native Texans, have the skills and credentials necessary to fill those jobs," said Hryhorchuk in a recent edition of the Texas Talks Podcast. “One of the big things we've seen over recent decades is that economic prosperity has often been driven by domestic net migration, with individuals moving to Texas having higher degrees of education and skills than our native Texas workforce. Given all our resources and the quality of our schools, we would really like to see Texans emerging from our public education and university systems prepared to compete and thrive in the Texas economy.”

“When we look at the big things that drive our state's long-term importance, it's those infrastructure factors," said Hryhorchuk. “Do we have the energy? Do we have the water necessary to meet the economic needs of our state over the long term? And are we able to mix that all together in a world where it is still an affordable place to grow a business and raise a family?”

Hryhorchuk is the senior vice president of policy and advocacy at Texas 2036, a non-partisan think tank based in Austin. He previously served as deputy director of budget and policy for Governor Greg Abbott.

Texas Talks podcast is hosted by Brad Swail. The weekly show is focused on public policy in the state of Texas, with insights from the people and organizations that influence it.

The podcast is available on Simple Cast and YouTube.