Although recent months have exposed weaknesses, Arizona’s jobs and workforce landscape reflects steady job growth and rising wages. However, increases in the cost of living, especially in housing costs, continue to outpace earnings for many workers. Population growth — long a driver of the state’s economic expansion — has begun to slow, creating questions about the pace of future labor force growth.
The labor force continues to expand as more residents participate in work or actively seek it, and employers across sectors report ongoing demand for skilled workers. As high-tech and fast-growing industries continue to grow, Arizona has an opportunity to strengthen its long-term economic outlook by both ensuring residents can access the skills and credentials needed for emerging jobs and by attracting qualified workers to the state. Educating Arizona residents, including students in our K-12 and post-secondary institutions, has long been a priority that Arizonans consistently identify as essential to the state’s future prosperity. In addition, communities support a continued focus on improving livability, high cost-of-living, and other quality-of-life measures to allow the state to attract qualified workers.
