Pflugerville Public Library launches new online platform for skilled trades industry

PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (KXAN) --- There are thousands of jobs in fields like construction, transportation and utilities that need to be filled in Central Texas.

Pflugerville Public Library hopes to chip away at that number through its new online platform called Blue Career.

"It gives you the opportunity to kind of dive into the professions, see what kind of trainings are necessary, if there's apprenticeships available or search for jobs," said Pflugerville Public Library Assistant Director Daniel Berra.

Berra said the library partnered with the Pflugerville Community Development Corporation to create this.

The online platform offers the following:

• Career assessments
• Access to training programs and internships
• Job listings

Its accessible to anyone with a Pflugerville Library card.

"This one kind of filled a gap that we felt like we weren't exactly filling before. It kind of fits in that whole idea of just helping people in the community find rewarding careers and better their lives."

Daniel Berra, Pflugerville Public Library Assistant Director

The workforce need

According to Workforce Solutions Capital Area, this area will need about 10,000 more workers annually to deliver on various projects in the works.

"We have a lot of different infrastructure jobs coming here to Austin, including Project Connect, the airport expansion, I-35 expansion and more."

Amber Warne, Workforce Solutions Capital Area

There's only about 6,000 people in skilled trades programs at the moment, according to Warne.

"The delta that we need to reach that 10,000 goal annually, the 10,000 demand, is about 4,000 [people] per year," Warne said.

Warne said Workforce Solutions also recently partnered with Austin Public Libraries community resource hub program to help promote career opportunities to individuals and help them get connected to different services.

"We're really trying to meet people where they're at and be in the community so they know that Workforce Solutions Capital Area is here to support them, not only in finding that job that they need now, but also building out a career for what they're looking for in the future," Warne said.

Workforce Solutions said there are career counselors on site at the Austin Public Library's Little Walnut Creek Branch location and the Southeast Branch location.