July 2023

Workforce Development Plays a Crucial Role in Business Attraction and Retention

In the world of economic development, attracting and retaining businesses is paramount for communities seeking growth, stability, and prosperity. While factors such as infrastructure, taxation, and regulatory environment play pivotal roles, an often-underestimated linchpin in this process is workforce. Availability of a skilled and adaptable workforce helps drive local economic success.

Workforce as a Key Determinant: When businesses contemplate relocating or expanding operations, the availability of a quality workforce is a primary consideration. A community’s ability to provide a well-trained talent pool directly influences a business’s decision-making process. Workforce development initiatives that focus on honing relevant skills and competencies can significantly enhance a community’s appeal to potential investors.

Matching Skills to Industry Needs: A workforce aligned with the demands of local industries is an asset that cannot be overstated. By strategically tailoring workforce development programs to match the skill sets required by existing and prospective businesses, a community can ensure a steady pipeline of qualified candidates. This alignment not only fosters business growth but also enhances the region’s reputation as an industry hub.

Enhancing Business Competitiveness: Workforce development contributes to the overall competitiveness of businesses operating within a community. A highly skilled workforce improves productivity, efficiency, and innovation, enabling businesses to stay ahead in a dynamic market. Moreover, businesses in communities with strong workforce development initiatives are better equipped to adapt to technological changes and industry shifts.

Retaining Homegrown Talent: Effective workforce development programs can stem the outmigration of local talent, fostering a sense of loyalty to the community. When individuals have access to quality education, training, and career advancement opportunities, they are more likely to remain in their hometowns, contributing to the long-term growth and stability of the local economy.

Collaborative Ecosystems: Successful workforce development often involves collaboration between educational institutions, businesses, and local governments. This collaborative approach fosters an ecosystem where stakeholders work together to identify skill gaps, design relevant curricula, and provide training that aligns with industry needs. Such partnerships enhance a community’s attractiveness to businesses seeking a supportive environment for growth.

Workforce Development Programs in the Phoenix-Mesa Metro: Here are just a few examples of workforce development programs being implemented in the metro area to meet the immediate needs of industry.

• Cable Harness Wiring Boot Camp is a partnership between Mesa Community College and the Boeing Company to teach skills needed at Boeing’s large aerospace manufacturing facility in Mesa.ⁱ
• Cleanroom Technician Certification, conducted by the Arizona Advanced Manufacturing Institute, is a 10-day boot camp to develop the skills needed to fill semiconductor fab talent requirements. The program is a partnership between Maricopa Community Colleges and semiconductor companies in the Phoenix-Mesa metro area.ⁱⁱ
• The Arizona State University AZNext Program is designed to create a workforce development ecosystem that addresses the need for more skilled workers in IT, cybersecurity, and advanced manufacturing roles. This program is a collaboration between the W.P. Carey School of Business, Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, and New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences. AZNext brings together employers, workforce development networks, economic development organizations, and industry partnerships, while creating a model for replication across the Southwest and greater U.S.ⁱⁱⁱ
• Arizona’s Reskilling and Recovery Network (RRN) addresses the near-term challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated economic downturn, as well as needed structural alignment between economic development and workforce development from a policy and programmatic perspective. This is a coordinated effort between Arizona Community College Coordinating Council and Arizona@Work.^iv
• The Caregiver Career Pathway (CCP) is a technology that uses an interactive “map” to illustrate the various paths that, starting as a Direct Caregiver, an individual can take to gain the required experience, skills, and credentials needed for a life-long career in Arizona’s healthcare system. The program is implemented by the Arizona Long-Term Care System Workforce Development Alliance (ALTCS WFDA) in coordination with Arizona Department of Economic Security.^v
• The Construction Careers Program provides a pathway that will connect high school graduates and those with a GED to careers in the construction industry and other in-demand careers where skilled labor is in high demand but short supply. This program is a public/private partnership between Maricopa County and Chicanos Por La Causa and Grand Canyon University.^vi
• Pipeline AZ is a collaborative network for Arizona job seekers and employers that provides access to jobs, education, and career support services.^vii
• Job Connect Mesa is a comprehensive, one-stop online portal for employers seeking employees and training for employees, as well as for individuals seeking jobs, career guidance, educational resources, or basic needs assistance. The portal features more than 30 organizations, non-profits, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, job boards, and local and federal governmental entities providing much needed services to the community. Job Connect Mesa was created by the City of Mesa Office of Economic Development (Mesa OED).^viii

In 2022, Mesa OED in collaboration with multiple city departments and after much research, surveys, focus groups, and analysis, developed the City of Mesa Workforce Strategy: Respond, Support, Adapt. This strategy was created in response to changes in the labor market during and immediately following the COVID-19 pandemic that affected businesses negatively. Today, with the newly developed strategy in place, Mesa has an opportunity to help overcome these challenges and create solutions to gain competitive ground on economic peer cities and regions. Efforts are aligned to achieve the following three goals:

1. Providing equitable access to resources and support for Mesa Jobseekers and employers.
2. Identifying and mitigating the skills gap in hiring.
3. Expanding job opportunities for workers and retention of employees for businesses.

To learn more about the City of Mesa’s workforce development strategy, visit the comprehensive report.

In today’s competitive landscape, workforce development has never been more important. The interconnectedness of workforce development and business success underscores the need for collaborative efforts that leverage education, training, and partnerships to create a thriving ecosystem.

References

ⁱ https://www.mesacc.edu/workforce-development/azami/cable-harness-wiring-boot-camp, 2023
ⁱⁱ https://info.maricopacorporate.com/semiconductor, 2023
ⁱⁱⁱ https://wpcarey.asu.edu/aznext, 2023
^iv https://arizonacommunitycolleges.org/reskilling-recovery-network/, 2023
^v https://azahp.org/azahp/awfda-altcs/caregiver-career-pathways-project/#:~:text=What%20is%20The%20Caregiver%20Career,career%20in%20AZ’s%20Healthcare%20system., 2023
^vi https://www.maricopa.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2509, 2022
^vii https://pipelineaz.com/, 2023
^viii https://www.selectmesa.com/business-environment/workforce/mesa-job-connect, 2023

DSV begins air cargo shipments to Mesa, AZ

DSV, a leader in global transportation and logistics, celebrated the expansion of its air charter network into Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport on May 16, 2023. The ribbon cutting ceremony marks DSV’s commitment to continue supporting customers within the fast-growing semiconductor industry in Arizona.

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Understanding Arizona’s water position

Regional leaders have prioritized water management in the arid environment of Arizona since before it was recognized as a state. From canal and dam construction in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Colorado River treaties and compacts with neighboring states and Mexico preempting the Colorado River Basin Project Act in 1968 to the 1980 Groundwater Management Act, Arizona’s growth in the 20th century was centered around intentional, proactive water management.

Today, even with the massive population growth and advanced industries expanding into Greater Phoenix, Arizona water usage has decreased from 1957 due to intentional conservation, advancements in reclamation and an economic shift away from water-heavy agriculture. The state has several different regulated water sources, the vast majority of which are reclaimed or renewable. The Colorado River shortage declaration necessitated by the 20-year drought is expected to impact Arizona less than its southwest neighbors because of the dedicated planning over the last century.

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Mesa is an All-America City

Mesa wins the All-America City Award for youth programs that encourage engagement, education attainment, and service in their communities. The prestigious award by the National Civic League is bestowed every year to ten municipalities or counties that are directly impacting the lives of their residents.

“Mesa is an All-American City. This year’s theme was youth engagement and our application put a spotlight on programs that directly support the growth and success of our youth. They are our future and together we’ll thrive,” said Mesa Mayor John Giles.

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