One of the things I love about Chandler is that people truly want to be here. Businesses want to be here. Families want to raise their children here. And companies continue to choose Chandler because of our quality of life, strong infrastructure, business-friendly environment and talented workforce.
But as our business community grows, we have to ask ourselves an important question: Do we have the people and skills needed to support that growth and how do we make that happen?
That is where the chamber’s “Chandler Works” initiative comes in.
“Workforce Development” can sometimes sound like a complicated term. To me, it’s really about making connections. It’s about helping a student understand what kinds of careers are available right here in Chandler. It’s about giving local businesses a chance to introduce young people to their industry. And it’s about making sure our employers have access to the talent they need to grow.
For instance, Chandler continues to rank among the top three communities in the country for industries such as semiconductor development, aerospace manufacturing and healthcare job growth. And Chandler‘s workforce is poised to grow 11.5% by 2029.
Chandler Works brings business and education together to help make those connections happen right now. Through internships, career exploration, mentorships and other opportunities, we give students a better understanding of what is possible and give businesses a voice in preparing the next generation of employees.
We can’t talk about the future of work without talking about artificial intelligence. AI is already changing the way businesses operate, and our workforce will need the skills and confidence to work alongside these new technologies. That means introducing AI and other emerging technologies into education and workforce training today, not waiting until tomorrow.
Building Chandler’s workforce is not something one organization can do alone. It takes all of us — business leaders, educators, students, community organizations and government — working together.
Because when we invest in people, we are investing in Chandler.
Terri Kimble
President & CEO
Chandler Chamber of Commerce
