Despite a positive growth outlook for IT in Arizona, there is local concern that the state lacks qualified workers to support the future of IT and that talent is leaving the area for professional opportunities elsewhere. As a result, in 2014 the IT Sector Partnership was launched with the intention of engaging a wide range of stakeholders to address the state’s workforce gap. The partnership aimed to define the challenges facing employers—both within the IT industry and in other sectors employing IT workers—and then develop and implement strategies to meet those needs.
About the Communities that Work Partnership
Skilled workers and good jobs are essential for ensuring robust economic growth, a thriving middle class, and broadly shared prosperity. Increasingly, companies and public agencies — including those in education, workforce, and economic development — are partnering to design innovative ways for workers to gain skills and earn credentials that companies will value and reward. These efforts facilitate the creation of good jobs, support strong businesses, and build healthy communities.
In April 2015, the Aspen Institute Workforce Strategies Initiative jointly launched the Communities that Work Partnership with the US Economic Development Administration. The purpose of this initiative was to document and accelerate the development of employer-led regional workforce initiatives across the country. Seven competitively-selected sites — in Arizona, California, the District of Columbia, Georgia, New York (upstate and NYC), and Texas — participated in a learning exchange focused on bridging economic and workforce development to strengthen local talent pipelines and improve access to quality employment.
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #communitiesthatwork.
