In recent years, Mesa has become an increasingly popular spot for economic and industrial development.
But the third-largest city in Arizona has always had a mix of employers. It remains a place where industries ranging from health care, aerospace, education and retail are among the top employers, according to data compiled by the city.
Mesa Economic Development Director Jaye O’Donnell said the goal of the city for job creation is to foster it city wide through a diversified economy.
“Mesa Office of Economic Development’s mission is to create a diversified economy that fosters job creation city wide,” O’Donnell said. “The Office of Economic Development has specific job creation and retention goals that change every year and represent a small percentage of the overall citywide number.”
In terms of industry sectors, Mesa has more than 51,000 jobs in the education and health care sectors, representing about 21% of its total employment, according to the Arizona Commerce Authority’s profile of the city. Another nearly 32,000 work in the professional, scientific and administrative services, and about 31,000 work in retail trade, number reflected in the city’s top employeers.
The top 10 largest employers in Mesa, ranked by total number of employees. Data was sourced from Maricopa Association of Government's 2023-2024 employer data.
(Erik Maurer/Independent Newsmedia)
Alyssa Tufts, Vice President of Public Relations at the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, said that Mesa is growing at a pace that results in more and more companies moving into the city.
“Mesa is growing rapidly and we’re seeing exciting investments in sectors such as aerospace and defense, manufacturing, semiconductors, and more,” Tufts sadi. “So far this year, companies including Hadrian, Moses Lake Industries, Apex Power Conversion, Cyclic Materials, Komatsu, and Gulfstream have announced expansions or opened facilities in Mesa.”
Aviation and generally technology manufacturing in particular are becoming a more prominent source of employment in the city.
On the aerospace side, the city is home to Boeing Co.’s production line for the AH-64 Apache as well as drones. MD Helicopters makes aircraft for civilian and military uses. And Mesa Gateway Airport has become home to several new employers, among them Virgin Galactic.
On the technology front, the city is home to data centers from Meta and Apple and has semiconductor supply chain companies such as Fujifilm and Mitsubishi Chemical.
“Mesa has employment areas throughout the city. We are seeing significant development around our airports — Falcon Field Airport and Mesa Gateway Airport,” he said. “These airports are important economic drivers for the region... We continue to encourage these industries and others to locate and expand in these key areas.”
The city also has a share of education and health care workers, with Mesa Unified School District, Mesa Community College and Banner Health among its largest employers.
Mesa’s draw as a top employment site in the Valley plays a big factor. While not everyone who lives in Mesa works in Mesa, nearly 60% of the working population in Mesa works a job in the city, O’Donnell said.
“Of the working population in Mesa, we estimate about 42% work outside of Mesa,” O’Donnell said.
Mesa’s workforce is a boon for employers, according to ACA data. With a civilian labor force of nearly 262,000 people as of 2022, it has plenty of workers for the biggest companies.
It also has an educated workforce, with 37% of that workforce having some college or an associate’s degree and 28% having at least a bachelor’s degree, according to the ACA data.
Tufts said that Mesa’s infrastructure and quality of life are also enticing for many working-age individuals and families who may be interested in moving in.
“Mesa’s quality of life provides an ideal environment for businesses and families to thrive,” Tufts said. “Mesa ranked No. 9 of 15 best big cities to live in the U.S., and within the top 20% of all cities for net migration, according to U.S. News and World Report.”
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