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Access to an Unmatched Workforce Makes Irving-Las Colinas a Corporate Destination

Executive surveys from the past several years all confirm it: access to quality talent is weighing in more heavily than ever for site selectors and corporate decision makers.

Studies show some 10,000 boomers reach retirement age every day, leaving a huge gap for employers to fill. Beyond those staggering exit numbers, employers need a workforce that is well-educated and holds both technical and soft skills.

Irving-Las Colinas, centrally located in the North Texas region near both Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field, is known as the “Headquarters of Headquarters.” ExxonMobil, McKesson, Kimberly-Clark and Fluor Corporation are among eight Fortune 500 global headquarters based here.

Access to 3.3 million highly educated workers within a 30-minute commute is a leading reason why.

With eight universities, colleges and trade schools in the city, and 106 additional post-secondary schools located within a 25-mile radius, continuing education opportunities abound. Nearly 40% of residents over 25 have earned a two-year college degree, and 35% have at least a bachelor’s degree.

Irving-Las Colinas also has a young, diverse workforce with a median age of 32. As the 14th most diverse city in the U.S., more than 90 nationalities are represented. Numerous languages are spoken at Irving-Las Colinas schools, which consist of five public school districts and many private and charter schools, including religious, prep and honors schools.

“We’ve had a presence in North Texas for many, many years,” said Brian Tyler, CEO of Fortune 8 company McKesson Corporation in a 2019 article in the Dallas Business Journal. “The region is just such a great place for the resources in the community, the talent you can draw on. Irving was the best choice for a global headquarters in our mind.”

Corporate leaders recognize that education is a priority in Irving-Las Colinas. Assisting the 8,500+ businesses in the city, the Irving-Las Colinas Chamber’s Education Foundation works with higher education institutions, Workforce Solutions for Greater Dallas and businesses like Google to develop workforce training certifications specific to local industries and market needs.

A recent success was a partnership between Dallas College North Lake Campus, and two telecommunication firms, which realized an urgent need for qualified technicians and are collaborating with Dallas College to create a training program that will provide these companies and others with a highly skilled workforce.

The Chamber also joined with 10 other chambers, universities and organizations in the region to launch Bridging the Talent Gap, an initiative to help employers, educators and other community stakeholders understand and meet the challenges of ensuring a skilled and educated workforce. They collect hiring, training and educational attainment data from various employers to catalog gaps and opportunities, both existing and projected.

“The people who live, work and raise families in Irving-Las Colinas are our top asset,” said Beth A. Bowman, president and CEO of the Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce and the Irving Economic Development Partnership. “That’s why we collaborate with regional partners daily to create a continuous pipeline of talent for our current businesses and those yet to come.”

Intentionally growing and nurturing our own talent, as well as recruiting global expertise in numerous industry sectors, continues to make Irving-Las Colinas a headquarters destination not only for Fortune-level corporations, middle-market and small businesses but also innovators and entrepreneurs who enjoy and contribute to the diverse, creative and vibrant community.