UNT convened the Texas Talent Accelerator, a collaborative initiative designed to strengthen the North Texas workforce and support the state's economic growth, last fall.

The Texas Talent Accelerator will bring together colleges, universities, businesses and community leaders to plan for the jobs North Texas will need in the future. Its goals include sharing information about which jobs and skills are in high demand; aligning academic curricula, credentials and work-integrated learning with high-demand occupations; and helping businesses grow and stay in the region by making sure they have the workers they need.

"One of the major barriers to economic development in any region is talent. Companies in this region cannot grow if they cannot find the skilled talent they are looking for," says Ben Magill, who joined UNT as the executive director of the initiative and the university's inaugural chief economic development officer. "The Texas Talent Accelerator will be a regional labor market intelligence network that will facilitate economic development by bringing industry and higher education closer together and providing insights into talent supply and talent demand."