Tony Bennett, President and CEO of the Texas Association of Manufacturers, said upscaling helps workers, including veterans transitioning from the military, gain the necessary skills to move into industries like semiconductors, automotive, aerospace, and steel. Bennett was a guest on a recent episode of the Texas Talks Podcast.

“Upscaling most of the time means you're, for example, in one industry sector or a veteran leaving the military near Austin and transitioning back to the workforce," said Bennett in a recent edition of the Texas Talks Podcast. “You have a lot of skills, but if you want to work in the semiconductor industry, you’ll need to obtain some basic tech skills to join that program somewhere in the fab or manufacturing sector.”

“That's just an example that could be true with automotive, aerospace machinery, manufacturing textiles, and the steel industry," said Bennett. “Wherever you lack the skills, you can upscale into your preferred sector that you want to move to.” 

Bennett is the President and CEO of the Texas Association of Manufacturers (TAM), a position he has held since 2012. TAM represents over 500 companies across sectors like energy, aerospace, and chemicals, working to improve global competitiveness and economic growth in Texas. TAM advocates for policies on energy, taxes, workforce development, and legal reforms to support a pro-growth environment and protect jobs.

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.