Giga Texas tapping into local school districts for workers

Tesla’s Gigafactory Texas is taking a unique approach to ramping up production by working with local school districts.

The company launched a Manufacturing Development Program to attract graduating high school seniors to the company.

Successful candidates will

• attend Austin Community College for a seven-week training program paid by Tesla
• be paid $17 per hour during the program
• once they graduate the training program, they will start at $18.50 per hour at Giga Texas

Over the last three weeks, Tesla Human Resources interviewed about 70 high school seniors for the program.

In addition, Tesla is also working with two school districts (Bastrop and Del Valle) to establish P-TECH programs that will launch in the Fall, reports KXAN.

The Pathways in Technology Early College High School would allow students in both districts to pursue opportunities in manufacturing and technology.

Amanda Brantley, Bastrop Independent School District’s Director of College, Career and Military Readiness had this to say on Tesla‘s work in the school district.

What that will do for students is it gives them a foot in the door. At Tesla, hopefully even at a higher skill level than what the students going through this program will have. But it also gives them opportunities across the Austin area.

Tesla did not confirm how many seniors will be attending the training program at Austin Community College starting in June.