Arizona schools turn to career training to tackle workforce gap
Posted
What's Your Opinion?
Do you think Arizona schools are doing enough to prepare students for the workforce?
The issues behind career and technical education
The Issue: Arizona’s workforce gap widens. CTE programs like EVIT and WEST-MEC offer hands-on training, but limited funding, transportation, and access—especially in rural areas—remain major barriers.
The Stats: Arizona is projected to add more than 102,000 jobs by mid-2025, reaching 3.5 million total. With 173,000 job openings reported in December, 2024 and a construction labor shortfall of 5%, the state faces mounting pressure to train skilled workers.
The Solution: CTE programs equip students with industry credentials and real-world skills. Dual-enrollment classes available through community colleges is expanding access, but rural students still struggle with long commutes and fewer resources. Associations such as Junior Achievement (JA), offer successful privately-funded programs that introduce students to real-life scenarios, preparing them to balance a checkbook, budget their money, and even start a business.
What’s Next: Lawmakers are weighing increased CTE funding. Input from families and employers, along with expanded dual-enrollment classes, could help more students access career training without incurring college debt.
Arizona high school students and districts are investing in Career and Technical Education programs, known as CTE, to prepare them for high-demand careers.
Programs like the East Valley Institute of Technology and the Western Maricopa Education Center, known as West-MEC, are equipping students with job-ready skills — but persistent funding gaps and access barriers, especially in rural communities, remain significant challenges.
Arizona’s growing workforce gap is shaped by changing student priorities and economic demands. This financial strain contributes to students questioning the value of a college degree, especially when some graduates earn less than $28,000 annually — the typical salary of a high school graduate.
At the same time, Arizona faces significant workforce demands. The Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity projects approximately 430,000 job openings annually through 2032, with new economic growth accounting for 48,000 of these positions. This underscores the need for a skilled workforce to meet the state's evolving economic landscape.
West-MEC Senior Isabella Woolsey, who also attends Liberty High School in the Peoria Unified School District, is opting not to attend college because her career path was more affordable through CTE. She will graduate in May with an Arizona hairstyling license, and in October 2025, she will graduate with a certificate in cosmetology from West-MEC.
“It saves money. For me that’s a big benefit, I don’t have to go to college for what I want to do,” Woolsey added. “West-MEC sets students up for the correct career path in college if they want to attend.”
Woolsey also appreciated the hands-on experience she received coloring and cutting hair at the West-MEC location in Surprise.
“I like the tips,” she joked.
According to the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity, employment is projected to reach 3.5 million jobs by mid-2025, a 1.5% annualized growth rate. As of September 2024, Arizona reported approximately 178,000 job openings, reflecting a decrease of 12,000 positions compared to the same period in 2023.
Even megaprojects, like the $40 billion Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. facility, were delayed due to a shortage of skilled workers needed for the installation of specialized semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
Real-world solutions — and real barriers
Career training programs like EVIT and West-MEC offer hands-on experience and industry certifications, giving students an immediate pathway into high-wage careers. But rural students often face limited access, long commutes, and under-resourced programs, making these opportunities harder to seize.
“My son is graduating from the EVIT Fire and Emergency Services program this May,” said Meggin Portenier, a parent in Gilbert. “He’s already EMT-certified and ready to work. These programs give kids opportunities to explore career paths without incurring the costs or time commitment of a four-year university.”
Nonprofit programs for earlier intervention
Real life training, such as that offered by Junior Achievement of Arizona, is dedicated to equipping students annually with essential skills in financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurship.
JA BizTown is a hands-on, experiential learning program designed for kids of all ages.
"Volunteers help them complete 14 hours of classroom instruction before their visit," said Katherine Kemmeries Cecala, president of Junior Achievement Arizona. "During that time, they learn essential life skills like how to interview for jobs, work in teams, market products and services, and understand business operations.”
During the program, each student researches and applies for a specific role —such as CEO or CFO of a corporation, news director, marketing manager, and more. On BizTown day, a bus takes them to a kid-sized city in Tempe, where they step into their roles and run the town for four hours.
“These kids learn how to follow a business plan, apply for a loan at the bank, attend town hall meetings, and conduct both business-to-business and business-to-consumer transactions,” Cecala continued. “The goal: earn enough as a team to pay back a business loan — just like in the real world. It’s a powerful example of immersive, real-world learning that helps students grasp how communities and economies function."
This hands-on, interactive engagement is what makes students want to come to school. JA has also launched 3DE, a way of re-engineering education. The results are impressive with over 100% of participants outperforming others in academics, 81% showing improved discipline, and over 50% increase in attendance.
Rural students left behind
Rural students continue to face hurdles accessing CTE programs. A 2021 report by College Success Arizona found nearly 70% of rural students come from low-income families, lowering their likelihood of pursuing postsecondary training. A 2023 report by the National Rural Education Association noted rural schools often lack counselors, psychologists, and transportation infrastructure — limiting access to distant CTE campuses.
To combat this, some districts are leveraging local teaching talent to deliver hybrid or remote CTE instruction, reducing travel costs for students.
Still, disparities persist.
The rural-urban divide
Rural students often travel long distances for CTE programs.
Dual-enrollment with community colleges offers more local options.
Urban districts generally have better equipment and broader course offerings.
Funding remains uneven
In fiscal year 2023, Arizona received about $34.3 million out of the roughly $1.4 billion in federal funding from the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act to support CTE programs. Additional funding comes from the CTE State Priority Block Grant and the Secondary Career and Technical Education Fund, which uses state sales tax revenue.
While Arizona continues to invest in workforce training, funding allocation often varies by district. Some prioritize college prep; others focus on vocational tracks. This patchwork approach can leave students’ futures dependent on ZIP code.
There are also those who believe that workforce readiness is a cultural shift and it exasperated during and after the pandemic.
“I can’t find management,” said George Valverde, co-owner of Dillon’s KC Barbecue that has four locations in the West Valley. “The work environment that society has created the mindset to demand more money, but work less.”
Valverde said most of his hires are from word of mouth today where he provides hands-on training rather than completing an educational program. However, he’s a believer that people should get educated if they can afford it.
Community sees benefits
"My son Kyle was in the West-MEC Medical Assisting one-year program last year," said Manda Gempler, a parent of a medical assisting alum. "He knew that he wanted to go to college, but really wasn't sure what he wanted to do for a career. It's really stressful for a 17-year-old to know what they want to do for the rest of their life. But, the program showed him that this is a career he had interest in."
Industry leaders agree.
“Training programs are essential for preparing students for real careers,” said Tony Singh, co-founder of MG Truck Driving School. “Many of our drivers make $65,000+ their first year, with just a month of training. It gives them options — whether they stay in the industry or pivot later.”
Momentum builds for more investment
In October 2024, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approved an additional $500,000 in apprenticeship funding in health care, IT, construction, and advanced manufacturing, bringing the total investment to more than $12 million. Since 2022, more than 1,700 residents have participated in these programs, with a goal of reaching 3,000 by 2026.
The Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation's ElevateEdAZ initiative also received a $529,690 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to expand accelerated career pathways for high school students — especially in underserved communities.
Looking ahead
As Arizona attempts to close its workforce gap, CTE programs will play a central role in preparing the next generation for high-demand jobs. But success will require sustained funding, industry collaboration, and policy solutions to ensure every student — regardless of geography or income — has a clear, affordable path to career success.
Editor’s note: Charlene Bisson contributed to this story.
Editor’s note:A grant from the Arizona Local News Foundation made this story possible. The foundation awarded 15 newsrooms to pay for solutions-focused education reporters for two years. Please send your comments to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
By 
