El Paso Employers Underfire for Undervaluing Local Talent, Report Suggests
This opinion piece argues that El Paso employers tend to undervalue local talent, using Helen of Troy's decision to relocate several departments from El Paso to Boston as a key example. The author, a former employee, criticizes the company's rationale…
El Paso, TX, November 11, 2026 — A recent analysis suggests that employers in El Paso may be undervaluing the local workforce, citing corporate decisions that favor relocation to other cities over retaining skilled professionals within the region. This perspective highlights a potential disconnect between the perceived value of local talent and the operational decisions made by companies based in or with significant ties to El Paso.
The trend is exemplified by the decision of Helen of Troy to move several of its departments from El Paso to Boston. The rationale provided for this relocation, which favors a larger metropolitan area, has drawn criticism for allegedly overlooking the existing pool of skilled and dedicated workers available in El Paso. The author of the analysis, who identified as a former employee of the company, posits that this move overlooks the capabilities of El Paso’s workforce.
This situation is presented as indicative of a broader pattern observed in El Paso. According to the analysis, companies sometimes establish operations or grow within the city, only to later relocate key functions or departments elsewhere. Such movements, it is argued, can signal a systemic issue where the inherent value and potential of local talent are not adequately recognized or leveraged by businesses operating within the community.
The piece advocates for a recalibration of how El Paso’s talent base is perceived and utilized. It suggests that the city and its employers should make a more concerted effort to acknowledge, retain, and assert the value of the professionals residing and working in the area. The underlying argument points to a need for local entities to champion their own workforce, fostering an environment where talent is recognized and retained, rather than seeing it depart for other markets.
The specific financial implications, exact dates of the relocation, or the precise number of employees affected by the Helen of Troy move were not detailed in the provided summary. Similarly, the summary did not specify the names of other companies involved in similar relocation patterns within El Paso, nor did it detail the reasons cited by those companies.
Story summarized from the original created by Special to El Paso Matters on elpasomatters.org, see more information here.
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