As Arizona continues to grow at one of the fastest rates in the nation, the state’s population provides a strong pipeline of skilled talent with a drive for innovation. The state's job opportunities and premier quality of life attracts workers every year, with a momentum that’s only growing.
County for Attracting and Retaining Talent – Maricopa County
Lightcast Talent Attraction Scorecard, 2023
Fastest Growing County in the U.S. – Maricopa County
U.S. Census Bureau 2021
Largest Production Occupations Job Growth in the Nation
Lightcast, 2024
State for Workforce
CNBC, 2023
State for Job Growth Between 2018-2022
Lightcast Attraction Scorecard, 2023
Skilled Jobs Growth Between 2018-2022
Lightcast Attraction Scorecard, 2023
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Arizona’s workforce of 3 million has added more than 487,000 people since 2015. With more than 70 percent of the state's population born outside of Arizona, its clear people are flocking to Arizona for boundless opportunity and an unmatched quality of life.
Population Growth Rate from 2010 to 2020
Higher than the U.S. average of 7.4%
Arizona is Projected to Add 2,810,080 People
Between 2020-2050
Fastest Growing State – Arizona
U.S. Census Bureau, 2022
Largest city in the USA – Phoenix
Arizona's approach to workforce development is collaboration. We bring together academia, industry and community leaders and more to design customized solutions to meet private-sector needs.
The Arizona Commerce Authority has invested $100 million to strengthen Arizona's semiconductor ecosystem, focusing on the rapid development, commercialization and manufacturing of next-generation U.S. semiconductor technologies. The ACA is collaborating with industry partners to identify and address research infrastructure and workforce needs. Investments from the ACA include:
Investment to Arizona State University's Applied Materials/ASU Materials to Fab (MTF) Laboratory.
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Investment to Northern Arizona University's Metrology program, research and training.
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Investment to launch first U.S. Apprenticeship Program for Manufacturing Facility Technicians.
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Arizona is home to a world-renowned university system and one of the largest community college systems in the country. The trio of state universities and the community and private colleges are committed to preparing students for promising futures in leading industries.
Universities and Community Colleges
Post-Secondary Students Enrolled
Schools Offering Career & Technical Education
Arizona’s diverse and innovative education system prepares students for tomorrow’s workforce. The system includes magnet schools for the arts, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and other specialties, as well as high-quality public and private schools. Moreover, the state’s public and charter schools have near-universal open enrollment so parents may send their children to a school of their choice.
Arizona has more charter schools than any other state with one in five students in Arizona attending a charter school. BASIS Charter Schools, founded in Arizona over 25 years ago, has many locations across the state and due to its success has expanded to states across the nation. These schools are routinely listed on “best high schools” lists with BASIS Tucson North recently named the best high school and best charter high school in the nation by U.S. News & World Report and has 11 of the top 100 high schools in the nation. In Arizona, BASIS students boast an average 95 percent AP exam pass rate and 100 percent of graduates are accepted to a four-year college or university.
TEMPE, AZ (December 3, 2025) – Cognite, the global leader in Industrial AI, today announced the official grand opening of its new global headquarters in Tempe, Arizona. The relocation from Oslo, Norway, marks a milestone in the company's growth strategy and underscores its commitment to the North American market. The move will create more than 100 new jobs in the Phoenix area, bringing valuable employment opportunities across AI innovation, software engineering, marketing, sales and corporate functions. With its proximity to universities and tech ecosystem, the strategic location will help the company attract even more of the best talent from AI, cloud, data and industrial engineering. Several senior leaders at Cognite relocated from Norway and to Arizona to lead operations from the new facility, ensuring continuity of the company's vision and expertise.
READ MORE about Cognite Relocates Global Headquarters To Arizona And Celebrates Grand Opening In Tempe »PHOENIX, AZ (December 3, 2025) – Today, Governor Katie Hobbs announced a critical milestone in Arizona’s plan to invest $967 million to expand broadband infrastructure across the state. Arizona received final approval from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), paving the way for the project’s implementation. Arizona's Broadband Equity, Access & Deployment Program (BEAD) Program is the state's largest-ever broadband investment, furthering Governor Hobbs’ goal of ensuring reliable, high-speed internet connection for all Arizonans by 2030 through her ConnectAllAZ initiative. Arizona’s BEAD plan leverages significant private investment and represents a mix of technologies that reflect Arizona’s uniquely varied geography.
READ MORE about Governor Hobbs Announces Advancement of Historic Broadband Expansion »
