Texas 2036 President and CEO David Leebron recently addressed the Economic Outlook Conference hosted by The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce. In his speech, Leebron emphasized that Texas' most valuable asset is its people, not its natural resources or businesses. He stressed the importance of equipping Texas students with necessary skills to thrive in a rapidly changing workforce.
Leebron pointed out a concerning statistic: while 63% of jobs in Texas require postsecondary education or training, only one-third of students earn such credentials within six years of graduation. To address this gap, he proposed aligning high school standards with workforce needs and expanding career pathways through programs offering industry-recognized credentials and apprenticeships.
Highlighting successful initiatives, Leebron mentioned the Rural Schools Innovation Zone in South Texas, which partners school districts with higher education institutions to provide rural students with quality postsecondary opportunities.
Leebron also called for investment in research-backed instructional materials and competitive teacher pay. He noted Governor Abbott's support for these issues in his State of the State address, where teacher pay and career readiness were named as emergency items.
On infrastructure, Leebron said that water and energy are foundational to Texas' economy. He advocated for increased investment in water infrastructure following last session's $1 billion allocation. "It's time to 'Texas-size' our investment in water," said Governor Abbott during his address.
The Texas Energy Fund was also highlighted as crucial for supporting rural energy producers amid growing energy demands from technologies like AI and data centers. A recent poll showed 59% of Texans support an additional $5 billion investment in this area.
With a $194.6 billion budget for the 2025-26 cycle, Leebron sees an opportunity to tackle long-term challenges such as health care costs and infrastructure improvements. Fully funding the Texas All-Payor Claims Database could provide actionable insights into designing better health plans and managing state healthcare costs.
In conclusion, Leebron emphasized that addressing these issues would ensure prosperity and opportunity for all Texans as the state approaches its bicentennial.
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