While the original focus of the Houston Back on Track initiative was to help put people back to work following pandemic-era job displacement, it has evolved into a collective effort to serve and support low-wage workers in Houston looking for something better. Our progress has been meteoric, morphing from a pitch deck to a recognized brand and advocate for so many workers in Houston. At the heart of our efforts is the work we do to connect jobseekers to career coaches at our community partners.

In the past 18 months alone, Houston Back on Track connected over 10,400 jobseekers to our community partners. Many of these people enrolled in programs, received coaching, improved their skills and were hired by companies representing a variety of industries. The trajectory of these people's lives improved along with the talent levels of the employers bringing them aboard. For all parties involved, this work has been win-win.

2024 saw results from the Houston Back on Track survey, asking those who signed up if they got the support they needed. The survey went out to thousands of jobseekers, in English and Spanish, offering possible incentives for their participation. These are some of our learnings:

• 84% of those who responded are still pursuing new job opportunities
• The most desired career paths are in customer service and medical fields
• Most respondents interviewed with employers that are not partners of Houston Back on Track
• Nearly all respondents recalled being contacted by a career coach
• The most popular support services were resume writing and job interview coaching

A significant component in our strategy going forward is to stay in communication with the people we’ve already connected with on some level, nurturing their career aspirations and providing them with the tools they need to thrive. With continued engagement, Houston Back on Track will motivate clients, provide guidance and open educational opportunities through Grow With Google scholarships to improve jobseekers' skills. 

“At Wesley Community Center, we deeply value the dedication Houston Back on Track has shown in empowering our clients through modern resources like LinkedIn Learning and Grow With Google,” said Amy Corran, President and CEO, Wesley Community Center. “Their commitment to genuinely advocating for our clients with employers is commendable. We eagerly anticipate continuing our partnership to provide impactful upskilling opportunities that leverage data and innovative tools, enhancing our collective efforts to improve the mobility and foster success of our residents.”

Houston Back on Track partners with United Way of Greater Houston’s THRIVE network. Between April 2023 and March 2024, Back on Track referred 5,424 individuals to 13 THRIVE community partners who worked with 23 employers and 15 education partners. 550 of those clients were actively pursuing skills development programs. 578 of those clients were interviewed for open job opportunities and 495 were hired. Houston Back on Track also supported 155 career coaches with professional development opportunities to strengthen their coaching skills.

Learn how you can get involved in Houston Back on Track.

Download the Partnership's 2024 Impact Report.