PHOENIX — As Arizona faces shortages in industries like health care, tech and manufacturing, a new state commission promises to fill the workforce gaps.
“It is well known that a number of companies lack skilled candidates today. This partnership is going to cure that problem,” said Arizona Schools Superintendent Tom Horne on Thursday.
Horne announced the creation of the Arizona Education Economic Commission. It’s purpose is to expand existing career and technical programs with more well-paying job opportunities for teens graduating high school.
TSMC, Banner Health, U-Haul among participants
Arizona Department of Education Chief Strategy Officer Edward Cota will chair the new commission. The alliance of business and community leaders includes TSMC, Banner Health, Raytheon, U-Haul, and a dozen other companies.
“This will result in a highly motivated, highly skilled workforce,” Cota said.
The work-based apprenticeship program will be built on the existing foundation of Arizona’s 14 career and technical education districts that offer 90 areas of study. Apprenticeships will be modeled after Swiss work apprenticeship programs.
“I think what’s going on here is very counter-cultural,” said Stuart Shoen, vice president of U-Haul. “It’s counter-cultural to encourage young people to not go to college necessarily.”
Shoen said his company welcomes college graduates with an MBA.
“But that’s not what we need at U-Haul. We need people who have excellent values, people who are team oriented, results-oriented,” Shoen said. “I want to compliment this group and this program and highlight why we’re so excited.”
Is Swiss apprenticeship model best for Arizona schools?
“We are happy to accompany the selection by sharing experiences, expertise and best practices,” said Honorary Swiss Consul Dr. Werner Bonadurer, in attendance at Thursday’s announcement.
Switzerland and the U.S. have a federal memorandum of understanding in place to share best practices in education. Swiss high school graduates who participate in the rigorous apprenticeship programs earn similar salaries as those with four-year college degrees, Bonadurer said.
The idea for the commission came about after a Swiss ambassador met with a Phoenix nonprofit.
Tina Waddington, executive director of the Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations, said she then approached the superintendent’s office. Waddington said she is convinced the program will bring “a lot of innovation and goodwill to Arizona.”
Switzerland is the seventh largest foreign direct investor in the U.S.
Students as young as 15 may apply
Students as young as 15 will be eligible to apply for apprenticeships at major companies while simultaneously taking school courses, Horne said.
For example, a student could apply for an apprenticeship at microchip maker TSMC and after earning a high school degree, begin working full time at the company with a $70,000 annual salary, Cota said.
Alex Dely, contracts manager at Raytheon, said skilled workers are desperately needed as thousands of openings remain unfilled in his company.
“Workforce is the single biggest constraint for everything that we’re talking about for every project,” said Dely, who is also a professor at the University of Arizona.
Governor’s office not involved in announcement
A spokesperson for Horne said more details about apprenticeships will be released in the coming weeks.
Thursday’s event also featured Taiwan’s Ministry of Education Director. From a political standpoint it was noteworthy that, given the presence of foreign dignitaries, no one from the governor’s office was in attendance. Gov. Katie Hobbs and Horne have clashed on many issues since both took office in January. A spokesperson for Horne tells 12News that the governor's office was not involved in creation of the commission.