Arizona’s education to workforce pipeline could be improved for both students, employers

PHOENIX — Arizona’s postsecondary attainment levels have been steadily rising, but is it enough to cover the state’s job openings?

According to the Center for the Future of Arizona’s Progress Meters, 44% of Arizonans currently have an associate’s degree or higher. In fact, the number has jumped six percentage points in the past decade.

Rich Nickel, president and CEO of Education Forward Arizona, told KTAR News 92.3 FM those percentage points represent a large group of workers, but it still may not be enough to fill Arizona’s workforce.

“One percentage point equals somewhere between 35,000 and 40,000 net new degrees coming to our state,” Nickel said. “And you do the math over time, all of a sudden you’re looking at 325,000 or 350,000 net new degrees that have come to our state.”

Arizona’s workforce needs are expected to increase

Arizona is expected to need 86,000 new postsecondary degrees to fill workforce needs from 2024 to 2034, according to the Center for the Future of Arizona.

Nickel said what the state needs is a central education to workforce pathway. The problem is Arizona may be too independent.

“Our government structure is one that is more decentralized (and) has more local control,” Nickel said. “I think as we look at the education-to-workforce ecosystem, you’re seeing those same dynamics. And I think there’s some opportunity for us to think about.”

Nickel suggested increasing the K-12 workforce pipeline, such as career and technical education (CTE) courses. He added creating more CTE programs could open up opportunities for students and employers looking to fill positions.

According to data from the Center for the Future of Arizona, 78% of students who complete CTE courses go on to college.

“I think the other thing is to really do a deep dive on what the state’s strategy is for workforce development, including education, post-secondary education and businesses in that conversation now instead of waiting till the business is here and then trying to figure out how we meet the supply for their demand,” Nickel said.

Funding for this journalism is made possible by the Arizona Local News Foundation.

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