Small businesses continue to struggle to find qualified workers. In June 2026, 84% of small business owners hiring or trying to hire reported receiving few or no qualified applicants, according to the National Federation of Independent Business. That pressure can make nearby international markets appear to be a quick geographic solution. But choosing a country before defining … [More]
Skilled Trades, Big Opportunity in the Construction Boom
How Arizona business leaders can help close the workforce gap
Arizona is in the middle of the largest construction boom in its history, and the trades workforce needed to sustain it is shrinking. TSMC's $165-billion semiconductor campus in North Phoenix alone is expected to generate more than 40,000 construction jobs over four years. Add the surge of data centers and industrial expansion across the Valley, and the challenge becomes clear: … [More]
West-MEC Launches Largest Campus with Ribbon Cutting, Phase II Groundbreaking
West-MEC celebrated a major milestone with the grand opening of its new Southeast Campus and the ceremonial groundbreaking for Phase II of the project. West-MEC leadership, Governing Board members, elected officials, industry partners, and community leaders gathered to mark the occasion. The celebration began with a ceremonial groundbreaking for Phase II, highlighting the … [More]
Scottsdale Co. Partners to Expand Career Development for Dental Hygienists
Spear Education, a provider of advanced dental education and dental workforce enablement solutions, and Kwikly, a workforce platform connecting dental professionals with practices nationwide, announced a partnership to improve continuing education and career development opportunities for dental hygienists. Eligible Kwikly hygienists receive access to Spear Education's Hygiene … [More]
Why K-12 Partnerships Matter to Arizona’s Workforce Future
Arizona business leaders talk often about workforce development. We need skilled employees, stronger pipelines and communities that can compete for the jobs of tomorrow. Those conversations usually begin at the college or career level. They should begin much earlier—in our K-12 schools. New research from Harvard's Graduate School of Education examined more than 1,550 … [More]
TSMC Arizona Pairs 280 Interns with Valley Youth for STEM Day
In one of the largest community activations of its kind in Arizona, 280 interns from TSMC Arizona enlightened hundreds of youth from the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley in STEM careers through immersive activities at the Arizona Science Center. The event is part of TSMC’s Arizona’s annual Community Involvement Day and reflects the company’s commitment to developing … [More]
How Commercial Real Estate’s Talent Drain Is Hitting NOI
Commercial real estate is bleeding talent. According to industry-standard research by CEL & Associates and the National Apartment Association, annual turnover in property management exceeds 32 percent, a systemic infrastructure failure that drains net operating income (NOI) across both commercial and multifamily portfolios. With property management facing an … [More]
Carvana Partners with Jimmie Johnson Foundation to Launch National CTE Grant Program
Carvana, the industry pioneer for buying and selling cars online, and the Jimmie Johnson Foundation announced the launch of Driving Brighter Futures, a grant program designed to accelerate career and technical education (CTE) in automotive and engineering programs at public schools serving grades K-12 across the country. Every great mechanic, engineer, and technician started … [More]
National Culinary School Partners with Desert Mountain Club on Workforce
Auguste Escoffier Global Solutions, a workforce development and training partner to employers in the culinary and hospitality industry, announced the launch of a registered Apprenticeship Program with Desert Mountain Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, naming Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts as the Related Technical Instruction provider. The apprenticeship program is … [More]
Arizona Anchors New Southwest Talent Hub for Semiconductor Industry
At a press event at JA BizTown, the Arizona Commerce Authority, in partnership with the National Network for Microelectronics Education, SEMI Foundation, and the National Science Foundation (NSF), announced the designation of NNME Southwest as an official NNME Regional Node—one of the nation’s anchor hubs for semiconductor workforce development. The National Network for … [More]
West-MEC to Open Largest Campus Yet Near Thomas and the Loop 101
This July 2026, West-MEC will open the doors to its new Southeast Campus, expanding career and technical education opportunities in one of Arizona's fastest-growing regions. Located near Thomas Road and Loop 101, the campus represents West-MEC's continued commitment to preparing students for high-demand career fields aligned with Arizona's workforce needs. As economic growth … [More]
Alpers Dentistry’s Purpose-Built Practice
How Alpers Dentistry hardwired impact into its business model
In a sector often defined by volume, speed and transactional care, Alpers Family and Cosmetic Dentistry has carved out a different path, one where purpose is not an accessory to the business but a structural pillar. Since acquiring the practice in 2018, Kristopher Alpers, D.D.S., has worked to build a model of dentistry that is personal, intentional and deeply rooted in … [More]
TSMC’s People‑First Strategy Is Reshaping Arizona’s Talent Landscape
Robust programs build a strong, sustainable and varied talent pipeline
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s presence in Arizona is often described in terms of scale, the multibillion‑dollar fabs, the global supply chain, the advanced technologies that power everything from electric vehicles to aerospace systems. But behind the cranes and construction milestones is a quieter, more enduring story: the company’s deep investment in people. As … [More]
Investing in Readers Today to Build Arizona’s Workforce Tomorrow
Why early literacy is a business issue
Arizona’s workforce challenges rarely begin in the workplace. Long before companies struggle to fill open positions or train new hires, the foundation of the talent pipeline is already being built — often in a classroom or living room where a child is learning to read. For many business leaders, early literacy may feel far removed. But the ability to read proficiently by … [More]
Why Narrow Talent Pipelines Threaten the Future of the Workforce
The workforce is at a crossroads right now. Employers want to find talent that will set them up for success and be able to perform well amid rapid change, but there are limitations on who they consider to be “qualified.” For instance, nearly three quarters of HR professionals report they cannot find the workers their organizations need to fill critical open roles. In a rapidly … [More]
The Stability Problem Behind Phoenix’s Workforce
On the surface, the national workforce appears to be on the mend after a significant dip in February. March’s national jobs report showed payroll gains of 178,000 and a slight drop (-.1%) in unemployment to 4.3%. On paper, those numbers suggest a strengthening labor market. However, wage growth continues to slow, and workforce participation has declined. At the same time, … [More]
Why Volunteering Is Your Company’s Secret Retention Strategy
Picture this: a strong company that's starting to crack from the inside. Productivity is slipping. Top performers have quietly begun looking elsewhere. Leadership is wondering where they went wrong. Compensation is competitive. The benefits are solid. The work is meaningful. So, what's missing? For a growing number of organizations, the answer is showing up in an unexpected … [More]
Demand for AI Skills Outpaces Tech Talent Supply
Talent shortages are the single biggest challenge facing technology leaders in 2026, as artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes hiring priorities, according to the new Reveal 2026 IT Talent Survey, released today by global software leader Infragistics. Eighty percent (80%) of technology leaders reported using AI in software development in 2025, and 77% named expanding AI … [More]
