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Ext. PublicationDemographic Change, Education and the Future of Texas and the Nation | Podcast
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The Business of Government
How are demographic and educational trends reshaping Texas’ economy and workforce? In this episode of Weaver: Beyond the Numbers, The Business of Government, host Adam Jones sits down with Dr. Holly Heard, senior vice president for research at the Greater Houston Partnership, to examine how population growth, education and infrastructure intersect to define the state’s future. From shifting migration patterns to the evolving energy landscape, the discussion explores how these forces are shaping the Texas economy and what it means for communities across the country.
Key Points:
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- Texas is a “receiver state,” drawing residents from across the U.S. and the world, fueling economic growth and population diversity
- Rapid growth and aging infrastructure are putting new pressure on Texas’s energy, water and transportation systems
- Educated newcomers are filling high-skill jobs while many local students lack the postsecondary credentials to compete
The episode mentions that infrastructure remains a leading concern in Texas. As population growth intensifies demand on energy, water and transportation systems, the state’s investments in modernization and renewable energy stand out as positive steps forward. Houston’s challenges with drought, flooding and power reliability mirror those of the nation’s other large metro areas, illustrating why coordinated infrastructure and workforce strategies are critical to long-term resilience.
Texas remains a magnet for opportunity, drawing both domestic and international migrants with higher education levels and professional experience. While this influx strengthens the state’s competitiveness and business climate, Dr. Heard explains it also exposes a growing gap: local students are not earning degrees or credentials at the same pace, creating what she calls a “two-tiered labor market.”
Reflecting on the lasting impact of the pandemic on education and the workforce, Dr. Heard shared an optimistic view of how Texas and the next generation will adapt: “At some point, all of our kids will have been raised during or post pandemic. They will learn to adjust to it themselves, and we will make our educational institutions and our work life respondent to a new normal of people who have lived through that. And we will just find ways to adapt.”
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