Arizona Town Hall, in partnership with Maricopa Community Colleges, has released a new statewide report titled Building Arizona’s Workforce. As the lead author and editor, Maricopa Community Colleges collaborated with industry leaders and educators across Arizona to provide a timely and data-informed foundation for addressing critical workforce challenges.
The report serves as the background resource for the 117th Arizona Town Hall—a series of consensus-driven discussions scheduled throughout 2025 that will bring together voices from every region of the state to shape Arizona’s workforce future.
“This report is more than a comprehensive workforce report—it is a call to action,” said Daniel Barajas, Chief Officer of Workforce and Economic Development at Maricopa Community Colleges. “Arizona’s future depends on our ability to build and sustain a resilient, skilled, and diversified workforce. That means understanding where the gaps are, who is being left behind, and how we can collaboratively build a system that works for everyone.”
Why It Matters
Arizona is among the fastest-growing states in the nation, yet data shows a widening gap between workforce demand and the availability of skilled workers. This report presents comprehensive findings that identify where those gaps exist and offers insights to help close them. The findings serve as a critical roadmap to support the state’s continued economic growth and prepare more Arizonans for the jobs of the future.
As the largest community college system in the nation, Maricopa Community Colleges educates more Arizonans each year than any other publicly funded college or university. With 90% of its students remaining in Maricopa County after graduation, the system plays a central role in sustaining the region’s workforce and economic future.
“At Maricopa Community Colleges, we are not only educating the next generation of Arizona’s workforce—we are an integral component to the state’s economic engine,” said Dr. Steven R. Gonzales, Chancellor of Maricopa Community Colleges. “This report affirms what we see every day: when education is aligned with industry and government needs, communities thrive. Our graduates stay, work, and lead here—and that makes our role in Arizona’s future more important than ever.”
Key Sectors Covered
The report provides targeted insights and data-driven projections in sectors that are vital to Arizona’s long-term economic growth and stability. These industries not only represent the state’s largest areas of job demand—they also face some of the most significant workforce challenges.
- Healthcare: Arizona ranks among the top states with the most severe healthcare workforce shortages. By 2032, the state is projected to be short 4,679 registered nurses, 412 nurse practitioners, and 4,131 physicians. The report outlines gaps in nursing, primary care, and behavioral health roles—especially in rural counties like Mohave, where some hospitals cannot operate at full capacity due to workforce shortages.
- Construction: Rapid population growth and infrastructure investment have accelerated the demand for skilled construction labor. Construction employment reached 217,100 in August 2024, up 23% since February 2020. Still, 74.2% of construction markets nationwide report difficulty finding skilled workers, a trend reflected in Arizona.
- Manufacturing: Traditional and advanced manufacturing sectors continue to expand across the state, creating a surge in demand for technicians, machinists, and production workers. Arizona’s manufacturing employment is projected to grow 1.5% annually through 2033, adding over 31,000 jobs in that time frame.
- Agriculture: As a cornerstone of Arizona’s economy, agriculture supports over 126,000 jobs and contributes $30.9 billion in economic activity. The sector faces labor shortages, an aging workforce (the average age of farm producers is nearing 60), and immigration-related challenges that impact productivity and growth.
- Behavioral Health: Arizona’s need for behavioral health and social service professionals is expected to increase by 40% over the next decade—more than double the national average. The report highlights educational strategies and workforce initiatives to help meet this demand, including new behavioral health programs across Maricopa’s 10 colleges.
- Advanced Manufacturing (including semiconductors): Fueled by federal investment and industry growth, Arizona has become a national hub for semiconductor production and advanced manufacturing. The semiconductor industry is projected to add up to 115,000 technical jobs nationally by 2030, with Arizona emerging as a major hub. The report highlights community college-led initiatives like Future48 Workforce Accelerators designed to train entry- and mid-level technicians.
Maricopa Community Colleges’ Leadership
As the lead author and editor, Maricopa Community Colleges brought together experts from education, government, and industry to produce this resource. Barajas, along with Jennifer Kaufman Fourness, Program Director for Workforce Development, led Maricopa Community Colleges' efforts in producing the report.
As the largest workforce provider in Arizona, Maricopa plays a central role in equipping individuals with the skills needed to power the state’s economy. The report underscores the vital role community colleges play in preparing Arizona’s workforce to help fuel long-term economic competitiveness. Building Arizona’s Workforce offers both a statewide and regional perspective, featuring local data, labor market projections, and spotlight stories from across the state. This comprehensive background report will serve as a foundational tool to inform planning, shape policy, and help fuel Arizona’s future.
To view the complete Building Arizona’s Workforce report, click here.