How Arizona Is Equipping Employers to Close the Skills Gap
This week, I had the honor of moderating the Workforce Connections panel at the 2025 ADOT DBE & Small Business Transportation Expo, convened by the Arizona Department of Transportation in partnership with the City of Phoenix, Valley Metro, Sky Harbor International Airport, and other key agencies.
More than just a networking event, the Expo was a powerful convergence of vision, opportunity—and real talk about what it takes to deliver Arizona’s infrastructure ambitions.
After hearing the “Owners Panel” outline billions of dollars in upcoming highway, light rail, airport, and street improvement projects, our panel had a clear mission: Shift the conversation from “opportunity” to “capacity.”
👷♀️ Arizona’s Real Labor Challenge Isn’t Just Numbers—It’s Readiness
We often hear about a “labor shortage” in construction. But as one panelist put it:
“Arizona doesn’t lack a labor pool—we lack a labor pool with the skills required to meet production needs.”
That insight reframed our panel’s purpose: to connect contractors, primes, and agency leaders to the real-world workforce development tools already available—and challenge industry to help activate them.
💡 5 Key Takeaways from the Workforce Connections Panel
1. Apprenticeship is a Game-Changer—But It Needs a Rebrand
Joann Bueno from the Arizona Department of Economic Security debunked common myths around Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs). Employers of any size—not just unions—can establish a program, benefit from Davis-Bacon compliance offsets, and train up their own workforce. Apprenticeships in Arizona are growing 9.5% annually, with 8,372 currently enrolled and an average starting wage of $31/hour upon completion.
2. Workforce Development is a Business Development Strategy
Tom Cole of the Arizona Registrar of Contractors reminded us that workforce development isn’t just an HR issue—it’s a survival issue for small businesses. Out of every 4 skilled tradespeople leaving the industry, only 1 is entering. He’s attended over 85 events this year alone to grow awareness.
3. Arizona Has a Statewide Strategy—and ADOT is Helping Lead It
As the convening agency for the Expo and a critical member of the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet, ADOT is at the center of connecting strategy to execution. Florentina (Tina) Samartinean shared how ADOT’s workforce division is matching employers with pre-apprenticeship pipelines, training partners, and entry-level supports—especially for DBEs and small contractors looking to grow.
4. Industry Funding and Support Exists—Use It
Carlos Contreras outlined the Governor’s workforce investment through BuildIt AZ, Talent Ready AZ, and employer-driven grants. Contractors with fewer than 5 employees can access direct support to develop apprenticeships or grow their hiring capacity.
5. Employers Must Lead the Change The panel closed with a challenge:
What can industry do—today—to bridge the skills gap and strengthen Arizona’s capacity to build?
The answer: start now. Hire one trainee. Formalize your apprenticeship pipeline. Show up for education events. Use the resources available—many of them present on the exhibit floor.
📍 The Bottom Line
Arizona is not just funding infrastructure—it’s fueling economic mobility, small business growth, and job creation. But that vision only becomes reality if the people delivering the work are trained, supported, and equipped to succeed.
The statewide leadership in convening this discussion is a powerful example of what public agencies can do to move workforce policy from theory into action.
For industry, workforce development is a strategy to reduce risk, meet timelines, and grow the businesses we believe in, while building community infrastructure.
Now is the time to build the workforce we need to meet the moment.
💬 Let’s keep the conversation going. What workforce development efforts have worked for you? What barriers are you facing in building skilled teams?
