March 2009
In an effort to maintain high impact service to the Maricopa community and our partners, the Center for Workforce Development has created a new quarterly newsletter with information to guide us through these difficult times.
Check Out Our New Website
The Center for Workforce Development has recently redesigned and updated its website. Please go to www.maricopa.edu/workforce for current information and data on:
New Staff Joins Center for Workforce Development: Jay Kahl
We are pleased to announce the addition of Jay Kahl to the CWD team. Jay will coordinate faculty externships and curriculum reform for the High-Tech Workforce Initiative. This involves working with faculty and industry representatives to build partnerships, create opportunities for professional development, and update High-Tech Manufacturing curriculum.
Before joining the Center for Workforce Development Jay worked in instructional design at the University of Advancing Technology. Prior to that, Jay was a director and teacher for at-risk students in the charter school system in the Greater Phoenix area. He has a B.S. degree in Philosophy and Psychology from the University of South Dakota, and a Masters in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University.
Economic Indicators (Greater Phoenix)
CWD Staff Assists Residents with Career Counseling
The economic downturn has led many valley residents to reevaluate their careers and seek new employment opportunities or job training. To assist such persons, the Center for Workforce Development funds two full-time career services advisors and several part time advisors working at the valley’s four comprehensive one-stop career centers. These advisors assist clients on a one-on-one basis, and offer workshops career for dislocated, unemployed, and employed persons looking to change careers.
Workshops include:
Natalie Collins (natalie.collins@domail.maricopa.edu ) or
Bridget Dressel (bridget.dressel@domail.maricopa.edu ).
In a sign of the times, Natalie and Bridget have also been involved in several “rapid response” workshops for larger, mass layoff situations at companies like GMAC, Dex, and K-Mart. They have also been recently featured on 12 News. To read more and view the story, please click here.
Competing for Talent in Manufacturing
CWD staff is working to improve student retention in STEM to prepare individuals for careers in high tech manufacturing across many industry sectors. This effort is part of a three-year, $900,000 grant from the National Science Foundation known as the High Tech Workforce Initiative (HTWI). The grant targets high school and college age students, as well as grads, to demonstrate the value of careers in high tech manufacturing. It also emphasizes the need for continuous learning through an individual’s academic and professional careers. HTWI attracts students through social networking communities, educational camps, and career fairs, and industry workshops.
HTWI has also partnered with Dream It. Do It., a national ad campaign sponsored by the National Association of Manufacturers designed to recruit new students to careers in manufacturing. In addition, the grant provides funds to develop faculty and update curriculum at the Maricopa Colleges in response to the needs of the manufacturing community.
For more information please go to www.azhightech.com.
Economic and Workforce Overview
Its official, the U.S. has been in recession since December 2007. This already makes the downturn one of the longest of the post-war era. Projections are for a severe recession lasting into the second half of 2009:
About Us
The Center for Workforce Development works to ensure that the Greater Phoenix economy has a skilled labor pool which meets the existing and emerging workforce needs of the employer community. You can visit us at www.maricopa.edu/workforce
Check Out Our New Website
The Center for Workforce Development has recently redesigned and updated its website. Please go to www.maricopa.edu/workforce for current information and data on:
- Greater Phoenix Labor Market – Economic and demographic data as well as workforce indicators.
- Industry Sectors – Profiles on major regional target industry sectors including employment and wage data, occupational overviews, headcount data, and program information.
- Public Workforce System – Initiatives and one-stop career center resources.
- Carl Perkins IV – Information about the Carl Perkins IV Vocational and Technical Education Act of 2006 and resources of colleges.
New Staff Joins Center for Workforce Development: Jay Kahl
We are pleased to announce the addition of Jay Kahl to the CWD team. Jay will coordinate faculty externships and curriculum reform for the High-Tech Workforce Initiative. This involves working with faculty and industry representatives to build partnerships, create opportunities for professional development, and update High-Tech Manufacturing curriculum.
Before joining the Center for Workforce Development Jay worked in instructional design at the University of Advancing Technology. Prior to that, Jay was a director and teacher for at-risk students in the charter school system in the Greater Phoenix area. He has a B.S. degree in Philosophy and Psychology from the University of South Dakota, and a Masters in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University.
Economic Indicators (Greater Phoenix)
- Nonfarm Employment (2008):
- Total: -1.6%
- Construction: -15.8%
- Information: -3.5%
- Financial: -2.9%
- Business Serv.: -2.1%
- Trade & Trans.: -1.9%
- Manufacturing: -1.7%
- Hospitality: 0.7%
- Government: 2.4%
- Edu. & Health: 4.9%
- Unemployment Rate: 6.3% (December), U.S. Rate: 7.6% (January)
- Corporate Expansions:
- Cessna: 123 jobs
- Orbital Sciences: 700 jobs
- USA Basketball: 324 jobs
- USAA: 450 jobs
- Intel: 1,500 contract jobs
- Corporate Downsizings:
- Bank of America: 165 jobs
- Banner Health: 334 jobs
- DHL: 736 jobs
- Honeywell: 700 jobs
- K-Mart: 235 jobs
- ST Microelectronics: 750 jobs
CWD Staff Assists Residents with Career Counseling
The economic downturn has led many valley residents to reevaluate their careers and seek new employment opportunities or job training. To assist such persons, the Center for Workforce Development funds two full-time career services advisors and several part time advisors working at the valley’s four comprehensive one-stop career centers. These advisors assist clients on a one-on-one basis, and offer workshops career for dislocated, unemployed, and employed persons looking to change careers.
Workshops include:
- Career Pathways – Educates customers on the high demand, high skill, high wage industry cluster areas in Greater Phoenix.
- Career Search Tools – Provides resources to anyone searching for a job, such as resume writing, networking, and interviewing skills.
- Financial Aid Information – Offers participants skills on a variety of ways to pay for college including grants, loans, and scholarships.
Natalie Collins (natalie.collins@domail.maricopa.edu ) or
Bridget Dressel (bridget.dressel@domail.maricopa.edu ).
In a sign of the times, Natalie and Bridget have also been involved in several “rapid response” workshops for larger, mass layoff situations at companies like GMAC, Dex, and K-Mart. They have also been recently featured on 12 News. To read more and view the story, please click here.
Competing for Talent in Manufacturing
CWD staff is working to improve student retention in STEM to prepare individuals for careers in high tech manufacturing across many industry sectors. This effort is part of a three-year, $900,000 grant from the National Science Foundation known as the High Tech Workforce Initiative (HTWI). The grant targets high school and college age students, as well as grads, to demonstrate the value of careers in high tech manufacturing. It also emphasizes the need for continuous learning through an individual’s academic and professional careers. HTWI attracts students through social networking communities, educational camps, and career fairs, and industry workshops.
HTWI has also partnered with Dream It. Do It., a national ad campaign sponsored by the National Association of Manufacturers designed to recruit new students to careers in manufacturing. In addition, the grant provides funds to develop faculty and update curriculum at the Maricopa Colleges in response to the needs of the manufacturing community.
For more information please go to www.azhightech.com.
Economic and Workforce Overview
Its official, the U.S. has been in recession since December 2007. This already makes the downturn one of the longest of the post-war era. Projections are for a severe recession lasting into the second half of 2009:
- The first seven years of this decade can be described as a period of easy money, but credit is now contracting and asset prices are tumbling.
- GDP fell 6.2% in the 4th quarter of 2008 - the worst decline in 26 years.
- The stock market has lost nearly 50% of its value, home prices are down 12% nationwide, and oil prices have fallen from over $140 per barrel to near $40.
- Arizona has been hard hit. Due to the state's high exposure to the homebuilding sector, the downturn in Arizona began earlier that the nation as a whole and is expected to last longer.
- In 2006 Arizona ranked 2nd among states in employment growth. In 2008 in ranked 48th.
- The median price of an existing single family home in Greater Phoenix was down 35.5% from Q407 to Q408.
- The region ranked among the top metros nationwide for home value loss in 2008.
- About 40% of all present home sales in Greater Phoenix are repossessions or foreclosures.
- Conservatively, there is an estimated surplus of 40,000 to 50,000 housing units in the region. It will take several years for the market to eliminate this excess supply.
- Inflation is under control. Prices are declining due to the effects of falling energy prices and the recession.
- With energy prices down, Americans have $200 billion extra to spend on essentials rather than at the pump.
- Mortgage rates are approaching historic lows, allowing some to refinance - if they can qualify.
- The low dollar has boosted exports, but as the world follows the U.S. into recession exports will suffer.
- The Feds have been proactive in stimulating the economy. Obama's $787 billion package includes tax credits and funds for the unemployed, infrastructure, education - but will it have a significant impact?
- Arizona will likely lag the national recovery trend. Credit conditions must improve before the state's large inventory of houses can be absorbed.
- This problem will be exacerbated by slower population growth - a major historical driver of the state's economy. In 2005 and 2006 state population growth peaked at 3.6%. Growth is expected to be in the 1.2%-1.3 range for the next two years.
- It is expected to take until 2012 for state employment to return to levels seen in 2007.
About Us
The Center for Workforce Development works to ensure that the Greater Phoenix economy has a skilled labor pool which meets the existing and emerging workforce needs of the employer community. You can visit us at www.maricopa.edu/workforce