April 13, 2007                                                                                                  

Texas Association of Manufacturers Endorses Governor’s Higher Ed Plan
Workforce Development in Line with Association Priorities

Austin, TX – The Texas Association of Manufacturers (TAM) today endorsed Governor Rick Perry’s higher education reform plan, which includes efforts to increase college graduates in fields critical to the manufacturing workforce. 

“Governor Perry’s higher education plan acknowledges our state’s need to nurture the workforce of the future,” said Tony Bennett, chairman of TAM.  “Manufacturers are working hard to ensure high quality jobs are waiting for tomorrow’s workers and we applaud the Governor’s efforts to prepare the workforce for those jobs.”

Governor Perry’s higher education reforms include incentives for universities, community colleges and technical schools to increase the number of graduates in critical fields such as engineering, math, physical science, and math and science teacher education. 

Education initiatives to increase the number of college graduates with science and engineering degrees are included in TAM’s legislative priorities announced last month. 

A prepared workforce is especially important for manufacturers who employ more than 890,000 Texans whose paychecks are on average 22% higher than the national average, according to Bennett. 

“We are encouraged by the Governor’s ambition to improve higher education so that future workers are equipped and prepared to turn the engine of manufacturing – a key to Texas’s prosperity.”