ASML, a leading supplier to the semiconductor industry, held an inauguration ceremony today for its U.S. Technical Training Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Customers, government officials including Governor Katie Hobbs, and other dignitaries joined ASML executives to celebrate the facility, which began training engineers in 2024. Now fully operational, ASML anticipates the … [More]
Phoenix Debuts Nation-Leading Training Center for the Engineers Behind Advanced Microchip Production
Maricopa Community Colleges Launch Partnership Targeting Semiconductor Career Pipeline Development
ManpowerGroup, an innovative workforce solution provider, announced a strategic partnership with Maricopa Community Colleges in Arizona, one of the nation's largest community college systems. The collaboration will accelerate workforce development in the fast-growing semiconductor and advanced manufacturing sectors by addressing one of the industry's most urgent challenges: … [More]
Their Take: The Widening Gender Pay Gap and its Impacts on Our Economy
The latest Census Bureau report flew a bit under the radar — but the findings matter deeply for Arizona’s future. For the second year in a row, the gender wage gap in the United States has widened. On average, women in 2024 earned just 80.9 cents for every dollar earned by men, down from 82.7 cents from the previous year. At the same time, Black workers’ median wages fell 3.3 … [More]
Solar & Storage Training Center Opens in Avondale Targeting Utility-Scale Workforce Growth
NovaSource Power Services, the premium provider of total asset optimization including operations and maintenance for utility-scale solar and battery energy storage services, has announced the official opening of NovaAcademy, a dedicated training center and curriculum designed to accelerate workforce readiness and raise the industry bar for safety, quality, and … [More]
Job Corps Partnership Opens Seats in High-Demand Skilled Programs
StrataTech Education Group, a leading operator of skilled trade schools, has partnered with Adams and Associates and the Phoenix Job Corps Center to provide specialized technical training and scholarship opportunities for local Arizona students pursuing a career in the skilled trades. Through this partnership, PJCC students will gain access to professional training programs in … [More]
West-MEC Launches 31,000-SF Career Academy to Strengthen the West Valley Workforce Pipeline
Full-service construction management firm GCON Inc. joined with project partners and leaders from the City of Avondale, Arizona and the Agua Fria High School District for a grand opening ribbon cutting of West-MEC Career Academy at Agua Fria High School. The new West-MEC campus spans 31,000 square feet in four state-of-the-art buildings offering technical training for high … [More]
SEMIquest Connects Arizona Students to the Future of Chips
When SEMICON West opens in downtown Phoenix this October, it won’t just be industry leaders gathering. Just a few blocks away, students will step into SEMIquest, a new interactive exhibit at the Arizona Science Center that brings the semiconductor world to life for Arizona’s middle and high schoolers. Created by the SEMI Foundation, the experience blends hands-on science, … [More]
New Facility Opens for Advanced Manufacturing and More at West-MEC Campus
Western Maricopa Education Center, known as West-MEC, recently celebrated the completion of its new Advanced Manufacturing and Welding building and Electric Vehicle building addition at its Northeast Campus in Phoenix. The new 16,500-square-foot Advanced Manufacturing building features an advanced manufacturing lab with an ISO-X cleanroom and industry-standard equipment from … [More]
CBRE Ranks Tech Talent, Phoenix Lands among Top 20 Markets
Phoenix ranks No. 20 overall in CBRE’s 2025 Scoring Tech Talent report, as tech talent hiring in North America slowed despite strong growth in artificial-intelligence specialty talent, according to a new report from CBRE. Phoenix saw strong tech talent job growth from 2021 to 2024, expanding its tech talent labor pool by 5.6% to 102,540 people. From 2021 to 2023, the city … [More]
National Construction Co. Partners with Grand Canyon University on Pre-Apprenticeship Program
Grand Canyon University and McCarthy Building Companies have expanded GCU’s successful Center for Workforce Development to include four new trades — civil construction, mechanical/plumbing, HVAC and concrete — opening the door to more career opportunities for students and creating a pipeline of skilled talent for the construction industry. The Pre-Apprentice Construction … [More]
Global Logistics Firm to Hire Nearly 800 in Phoenix Ahead of Holiday Season
GEODIS, a global logistics provider, announced plans to hire approximately 755 seasonal workers the Phoenix, Arizona, area to support the anticipated surge in demand during peak season. This hiring initiative will significantly enhance the company’s operational capacities in its warehouses and distribution centers in preparation for the holiday season, with seasonal employees … [More]
University Leaders Press Valley CEOs for Talent, R&D, Partnerships
Arizona's public university presidents delivered a unified message about the transformative power of higher education during the Greater Phoenix Chamber's Valley Voices event at the Orange Tree Golf Resort. The chamber’s annual gathering on the state of higher education brought together business leaders, educators and policymakers to discuss the critical role of a college … [More]
Arizona’s Semiconductor Boom Demands Talent – ASU and SEMI Step Up
As billions pour into Arizona’s semiconductor industry, the need for skilled talent is no longer a future concern. It’s a present constraint. With more than $200 billion in chip manufacturing investments reshaping the state’s economy, demand for engineers, technicians and specialized operators is outpacing supply. To help close that gap, SEMI, the global industry association … [More]
Tech Talent in Demand
According to projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Lightcast, in the next ten years the tech workforce will grow twice as fast as the overall U.S. workforce. The macro trend of digital transformation means demand for tech talent across the full spectrum of tech job roles will continue unabated. This analysis is part of the recently released “State of the … [More]
APS Uses Robots to Inspire the Next Generation of Engineers
The goal for every first-generation college student is not simply to get there, but to graduate – often easier said than done without caring mentorship and the genuine investment of a broader community. That’s where AGUILA Youth Leadership Institute comes in. AGUILA is a Valley-based non-profit and college access program that has been working with Arizona students for more … [More]
$2M in Capacity-Building Grants Available to Continue Growing Apprenticeship Pipeline
The Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity, is launching Round 3 of the BuildItAZ Apprenticeship Initiative—investing another $2 million in federal capacity-building grants to expand high-quality registered apprenticeships across the state. This effort aims to double the number of registered construction and trades apprentices by the end of 2026. This is the third round of … [More]
Feedback: August 2025
Q: What is your company (or industry) doing to strengthen the pipeline for talent to fill employment needs? Hannah Levos Talent Acquisition Manager BioLab Holdings, Inc. Sector: Medical Manufacturing At BioLab Holdings, we are committed to raising the standard of patient care — and that begins with the talent we bring on board. In today’s competitive talent market, a … [More]
College Partnership Brings Career‑Ready Manager Program to Power Arizona’s Service Sector
Mesa Community College and Northern Arizona University have launched a new transfer pathway allowing students in MCC’s Beauty and Wellness program to earn a bachelor’s degree in strategic leadership from NAU at a fraction of the traditional cost—without needing to relocate. This innovative option, called a 90/30 bachelor’s degree pathway, enables students to complete up to … [More]
