Employment & economic opportunity
Fair Access to Work.
Wages for Stability.
Careers for Progress.
Your skills deserve an opportunity. Texas Federation of the People Foundation supports access to employment, career preparation and resources for Harris County residents, including returning citizens, people with disabilities and workers rebuilding after hardship.
Harris County job market
A large workforce. A competitive job search.
Harris County had Texas’s largest covered employment base in March 2026. Employment declined slightly from the year before. Across the broader Houston area, nonfarm employment grew 1.5% over the year to July 2026. These figures cover different locations, periods and employment measures.
Houston-area growth included construction, education and health services, professional and business services, and leisure and hospitality. Manufacturing employment declined. For your search, compare the role’s required credentials, starting pay, schedule, transportation and promotion opportunities before applying.
Sources: BLS Harris County employment data and BLS Houston Area Economic Summary. Research reviewed October 4, 2026. Employment totals represent existing jobs, rather than advertised openings.
Work should pay enough to live.
$7.25 an hour does not cover a stable life in Harris County.
Texas’s general minimum wage is $7.25 per hour for covered, nonexempt workers. Working 40 hours every week brings in about $1,257 a month before taxes, assuming 52 paid weeks. Rent, utilities, food, transportation and health care compete for the same paycheck.
The 2026 Harris County living-wage estimate puts housing alone at about $1,229 a month for one adult without children. At minimum wage, only about $28 remains before taxes or any other expense. Working full time at this rate does not cover the county’s estimated basic living costs.
The Living Wage Institute estimates a worker living alone in Harris County needs $21.63 an hour to meet basic expenses. One working adult supporting one child needs an estimated $35.96 an hour. These February 2026 benchmarks vary by household size and circumstances.
This shortfall is a wage problem. Hard work deserves pay sufficient for housing, food, transportation and health care. TXFPF’s employment goal is progress toward livable wages, dependable hours and opportunities to advance.
Living wage data sourced from the Living Wage Institute via the Harris County Living Wage Calculator. Monthly figures divide annual estimates by 12.
Read Texas minimum wage informationPrepare for work. Build skills. Increase earning power.
Your next step should move you toward financial stability.
You bring experience, strengths and goals. Work readiness, focused training and ongoing coaching help you present those strengths and prepare for opportunities with stronger pay. Employers share responsibility by offering fair wages, safe conditions and clear advancement paths.
Work readiness
Build a clear résumé, practice interviews, strengthen workplace communication and plan reliable transportation. Identify accommodations and support before your first day.
Training and apprenticeships
Choose training connected to employer demand and recognized credentials. Registered apprenticeships combine paid work, instruction, mentoring and wage increases as skills develop. Compare starting pay, training costs and the wage progression before enrolling.
Explore registered apprenticeshipsCoaching and placement
Use job coaching to prepare, address workplace challenges and stay employed. Prioritize placements with wages aligned to your household needs, dependable hours, benefits and opportunities to move up.
Through ForgeWork, explore résumé support, job matching, employer connections and retention coaching. Ask about training and apprenticeship referrals. Our aim is employment leading toward a livable wage. Each employer sets its pay and hiring requirements.
Build your employment plan with ForgeWorkTexas Workforce Commission & Workforce Solutions
Employment support built around your needs.
The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) administers Texas Workforce Solutions–Vocational Rehabilitation Services. This program helps eligible people with disabilities prepare for, obtain, retain and advance in competitive integrated employment, working alongside people without disabilities.
Individual services include career counseling, training, job placement, assistive technology, communication support, workplace accommodations and job coaching. TWC determines eligibility and authorized services through the participant’s individual employment plan. A criminal record alone does not establish VR eligibility.
Workforce Solutions–Gulf Coast career offices serve Harris County and the surrounding region. Offices offer employment resources, disability access support and connections to VR staff. Request accommodations when arranging your visit.
Find a VR office or call 512-936-6400. Workforce Solutions: 1-888-469-5627.
ForgeWork · Powered by TXFPF United LLC
Your next opportunity deserves preparation and support.
ForgeWork connects job seekers and employers through career preparation, verified opportunities and support after hiring. It serves people with disabilities, justice-impacted applicants, veterans and Texans facing employment barriers.
Our private job board
ForgeWork’s private job board supports participant employment searches and employer connections. Visit ForgeWork to review available opportunities, create an account and ask about participant access.
Résumé matching with human guidance
Résumé development and ATS readiness support help present your skills clearly. Matching considers experience, qualifications, wage goals, work preferences and accessibility needs. Employment professionals guide next steps. Matching does not guarantee an interview or offer.
ForgeWork for employers
Connect with prepared candidates through matching, interview coordination, onboarding support and up to 90 days of retention coaching. Discuss inclusive hiring, accommodations and Fidelity Bonding information with the ForgeWork team.
ForgeWork also supports TWC VR participants and counselor referrals. Ask your counselor about authorization for provider services.
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