Labor
Mercedes is an ideal location for business which provides the benefit of a well trained population of over 153,000 within a 15 mile radius and over 500,000 residents within a 30 mile radius.
Texas has the second largest civilian workforce in the nation with 10.8 million workers and continues to grow. In the past 10 years, Texas has added 2.2 million new jobs. Mercedes has been a part of this positive trend. Mercedes is an ideal location for business which provides the benefit of a well trained population of over 153,000 within a 15 mile radius and over 500,000 residents within a 30 mile radius.
Employment in the MSA is forecasted to grow at an annual rate of approximately 3 percent over the next two years, a higher rate than the state average. The largest projected increases in jobs are expected to occur in the education and health services sector as a result of the area’s high population growth. Education and health services employment is expected to grow at approximately 8 percent, these are the two most significant indicators of employment growth since nearly 70 percent of employers in the South Texas border region are either schools or hospitals. In addition, leisure and hospitality services employment are expected to grow at a rate of approximately 3 percent, as well as construction employment. Total employment growth rates in the MSA are expected to be supported by the positive spillovers from a well performing Mexican economy and population growth in the area.
Workforce Development
Mercedes engages in an ongoing partnership with local colleges, workforce training centers, and the Texas Workforce Commission to assist businesses in identifying and enrolling in appropriate training programs.
Mercedes’ vibrant workforce is skilled in a wide variety of trades and is complemented by exceptional job training resources available in the area. Mercedes engages in an ongoing partnership with local colleges, workforce training centers, and the Texas Workforce Commission to assist businesses in identifying and enrolling in appropriate training programs.
South Texas College/Partnership For Community, Business And Industry Training
South Texas College (STC) provides training programs geared to meet local employment needs. Training Managers and Project Training Specialists are able to assess workforce requirements for a specific firm and design a program to fit the needs of that company. It also offers mandatory continuing education units to meet licensing requirements for certified professionals. In addition, Certificates of Completion are available for vocations, such as bookkeeping, automotive mechanics, electronic servicing, general office clerk, industrial maintenance mechanics, medical records clerk and nursing assistant.
Workforce Solutions
WorkFORCE Solutions collaborates with businesses to locate and train the most qualified employees available. It has locations throughout the MSA that assist businesses in recruiting, screening potential employees and performing skills tests. WorkFORCE solutions staff can answer questions related to tax incentives for hiring certain target groups, such as welfare recipients. It also offers on the job training, customized training, tax and labor law information.
Skills Development Fund Program
The Texas Workforce Commission’s Skills Development Fund Program assists businesses by financing the design and implementation of customized job training projects/courses. In partnership with a public community college, technical college or a higher education extension agency, the Skills Development Fund will assist in financing customized job training programs to fit the needs of Texas businesses. Courses are customized to fit the company’s needs.
Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC)
TMAC is a manufacturing assistance center that specializes in providing expert assistance on appropriate usage of technologies and techniques. TMAC is part of a national network of manufacturing extension partnerships supported by the national institute of standards and technology. This interchangeable network puts a wealth of tools and technology at your disposal. TMAC’s field staff specializes in manufacturing and industrial engineering. TMAC has provided services to a wide range of industries such as metalworking, food processing, electronics, plastics, apparel and more.