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 third grade is one of the strongest predictors of long-term educational and economic success. Students who reach this milestone are four times more likely to graduate from high school, a statistic highly linked to employment and long-term economic stability.
In other words, the future workforce begins with early literacy.
The Early Literacy and Workforce Connection
By the end of third grade, children transition from learning to read to reading to learn. From that point forward, reading becomes the gateway to nearly every subject and future career interest area.
When students fall behind at this stage, consequences will follow. Research shows that children who struggle with reading early are significantly more likely to continue struggling in later grades and into adulthood when deciding on a sustainable career pathway.
For employers, the downstream effects are real.
Low literacy skills are linked to lower employment rates, reduced productivity and fewer opportunities for advancement. Nationally, 36 million adults lack strong literacy skills, which business leaders increasingly identify as a barrier to building a competitive workforce.
Arizona’s Opportunity
In Arizona, the urgency is clear. Recent data shows that only about 36% of Arizona third graders are reading at or above proficiency, underscoring the need for stronger literacy support across the state.
Closing these gaps early is not just about academic outcomes. It is about building a stronger, more resilient economy.
Why Business Should Care
Forward-thinking companies should recognize that community investment is workforce investment.
When businesses support early literacy initiatives — whether through partnerships with schools, employee volunteer reading programs or company-wide investments in community literacy efforts — they are helping strengthen the long-term talent pipeline.
These efforts can take many forms:
- Supporting literacy programs in local schools helps build educator capacity in the science of reading by reinforcing evidence‑based practices and providing teachers with tools that strengthen early literacy instruction.
- Encouraging employee volunteerism through reading mentorship programs strengthens community support by connecting caring adults with young readers, creating a network of mentors who reinforce foundational reading skills.
- Investing in community partnerships that expand early learning access for families connects families to high‑quality preschool programs and evidence‑based resources that build early language, literacy, and school‑readiness skills.
- Collaborating with nonprofits focused on early childhood education and literacy expands evidence‑based solutions by partnering with organizations that use proven approaches to improve early learning outcomes and support family engagement.
Even small actions can create meaningful impact. A child who learns to read confidently by third grade is more likely to graduate, pursue higher education or training and enter the workforce prepared to contribute meaningfully to Arizona’s economy.
For business leaders looking to strengthen Arizona’s workforce, investing in early literacy may be one of the most powerful long-term strategies available — because the story of tomorrow’s workforce is already being written today, and it begins with helping every child learn to read.
Dawn Gerundo is community development and engagement director for education at Valley of the Sun United Way.
