With new technologies and new approaches popping up all the time, there are also new debates about what success in the American and specifically the Texas economies looks like in the future, and one new approach seems old-fashioned but true, higher skills will bring higher wages.
As a Houston Chronicle (paywall protected) op-ed pointed out this week, diverse qualifications are becoming more desirable for employers, some of whom are putting less emphasis on degrees and certificates.
More people are going exclusively for associates degrees, at least in the short run, and "we're also seeing a lot more students gaining access to community college courses and community college credits while still in high school, thanks to some advances from the Texas legislature that have really expanded dual-credit opportunities for students, according to Grace Atkins, policy advisor at Texas 2036.
"The Texas state technical colleges are seeing incredible enrollment, but they have been a little limited in their ability to increase enrollment just through their funding structure, which hopefully will be alleviated a little by legislation that was just passed this legislative session.
"And then there's a state Constitutional amendment on the ballot this November that will provide them with an endowment that will allow them to increase their capital so they'll be able to expand their enrollment in the future," she adds.
"There will always be a need for electricians and plumbers, I don't see them going out of style anytime soon," but there are an expanding number of ways for young people, particularly those fresh out of high school, to approach their future," Ms. Atkins points out.
"Texas is doing a really good job of recognizing that four years is not just the only path for students, but making sure that students have access to a variety of educational pathways that best serves them in the future.
And Atkins notes that her organization, Texas 2036, is focused on helping make sure students "in high school are both college- and career-ready so that they can make whatever decision is best for them and so they're set up for success wherever they see that taking place for them."