The Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) hosted its largest Arizona Workforce Summit to date, bringing together over 400 business leaders, workforce development professionals, and experts. The two-day event, organized in collaboration with Governor Hobbs’ Workforce Arizona Council and the Talent Ready AZ Initiative, focused on advancing economic opportunities in the state. Governor Katie Hobbs emphasized the importance of creating pathways to economic opportunity for all Arizonans. Since the pandemic, Arizona has added 616,000 jobs, a 23% increase over five years, with projections of adding another 480,000 jobs by 2033. Despite this growth, challenges remain, including per-capita personal income at 89% of the U.S. average. The summit featured expert panels and interactive sessions on topics such as workforce demographics, industry-specific talent needs, and innovative training programs. Participants discussed strategies to address childcare access, rural development, and justice-impacted individuals’ reentry into the workforce.
— new from AZ Big Media
