By InBusiness Phoenix
The Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity and the Governor’s Workforce Arizona Council hosted the “2026 Arizona Workforce Summit: Connecting Today’s Skills to Tomorrow’s Opportunities” on June 9-10, a two-day event that brought together hundreds of industry leaders, educators and industry partners to address Arizona’s most pressing workforce challenges. It also honored local industry workforce partners and High-Impact Training programs at the Summit’s inaugural Champions for the Workforce Recognition Luncheon presented by South32.
Arizona is projected to add more than 700,000 jobs by 2030 in high-tech manufacturing, healthcare, and other high-growth sectors. According to ManpowerGroup’s 2025 U.S. Talent Shortage Survey, 71% of employers now report difficulty finding skilled talent, more than double the 32% who said the same a decade ago. By 2060, retirement-age residents (65+) will grow to 30% of Arizona’s population (up from 23% in 2026), while the share of children will contract to 16%. Artificial intelligence is reshaping occupations faster than most workforce systems can respond. The 2026 Arizona Workforce Summit brought together Arizona’s workforce leaders, educators, industry partners, and policymakers to meet these challenges.
“Arizona’s workforce is growing, and the decisions we make today about training, education pathways and industry collaboration will shape economic opportunity for years to come,” said Mary Foote, Director, Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity. “The 2026 Arizona Workforce Summit gave leaders across various sectors the data, the connections and the strategies they need to ensure that growth reaches every Arizonan. We built this summit to be the most actionable workforce event in the state and welcome Arizona’s brightest minds.”
