Arizona and Maricopa County Lead in Talent Attraction and Workforce Growth

Arizona and Maricopa County Shine in Talent Attraction and Workforce Development

Arizona and Maricopa County have emerged as leading destinations for skilled workers and job growth, according to a recent report. For the fifth time in six years, Maricopa County has topped the Talent Attraction Scorecard by Lightcast, a company specializing in labor market analytics.

This year’s report also ranked Arizona among the top five states for its ability to attract talent, highlighting significant achievements in job growth, educational attainment, and the expansion of skilled jobs.

• Job Growth: Arizona ranks third nationally, with a 6.8% increase in job opportunities, surpassing states like Florida and Texas.
• Educational Attainment: The state saw a 15.8% rise in adults over 25 with at least an associate degree, positioning it fourth in the nation.
• Skilled Jobs: With an 11.8% increase, Arizona is fifth in the country for growth in skilled positions requiring advanced education or training.

The report underscores Arizona’s innovative workforce development strategies and its appeal to companies in manufacturing and technology sectors.

Over the last eight years, we’ve established an environment that serves as a magnet for jobs and people and we aren’t slowing down, remarked Governor Doug Ducey. He emphasized that Arizona offers a conducive environment for high-tech innovation and provides ample educational and job opportunities.

Maricopa County’s popularity as a residential choice has significantly contributed to these rankings. Between July 2020 and July 2021, Maricopa County experienced the largest numeric population growth in the U.S., while Arizona ranked third overall in population growth according to the latest Census data.

One of Arizona’s top strengths is our talented and skilled people – and this report is further recognition, stated Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. She highlighted the state’s collaborative efforts between educational institutions and industries to enhance skills training.

Arizona has received accolades for its workforce development initiatives. In 2021, it launched Drive48, a cutting-edge training center focused on electric vehicle manufacturing. This initiative has trained over 1,700 Lucid employees with hands-on experience in assembly and robotics.

To expand on the success of Drive48, Governor Ducey allocated $30 million to establish six more advanced manufacturing training centers across the state, emphasizing sectors like semiconductors and electric vehicles.

Additionally, the Arizona Advanced Technology Network has been introduced to further develop advanced training curricula, alongside continued investments in university and community college skills training programs.