The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approved on Apr. 30 the extension of Workforce 2 You, an accelerated job training program aimed at underserved communities, for a third year. The initiative will expand into Guadalupe, Surprise, and Buckeye and will continue to be funded by a $500,000 grant from the Governor’s Office.
The expansion is intended to address workforce gaps in areas with limited access to vocational resources. Chair Kate Brophy McGee said, “Arizona continues to attract a wide range of industries. Programs like Workforce 2 You expand into communities with more limited access to workforce development resources. It strengthens local talent pipelines and promotes economic growth across the county.”
Workforce 2 You provides free job training for veterans, low-income individuals, dislocated workers, and others needing support. Participants can enroll in programs lasting between ten and sixteen weeks that lead to industry-recognized credentials in fields such as healthcare and skilled trades. For its third year, the program will offer twelve cohorts with up to twenty participants each. Training options include Medical Administrative Assistant, Bookkeeper, Human Resources Professional roles, Engineering and Electrical Technician tracks as well as Microsoft Office skills certification.
Vice Chair Debbie Lesko said that rapid population growth in areas like Surprise and Buckeye increases demand for such programs: “It’s no secret that the West Valley is growing at a tremendous rate and attracting new residents from all over the country,” Lesko said. “Workforce 2 You helps ensure that people living in Surprise and Buckeye can easily access programs to earn professional credentials that can fill local workforce gaps and support their families.” Supervisor Steve Gallardo added: “Expanding Workforce 2 You into new communities is about meeting people where they are and removing barriers to opportunity… This program will make a huge impact in my district and help Guadalupe and Buckeye residents who may not have access to traditional workforce training gain the skills they need to succeed.”
The second year of Workforce 2 You included eight cohorts across three communities with positive outcomes reported among participants seeking jobs such as Home Health Aide or Engineering Technician roles. The current goal is a seventy-five percent completion rate with at least half of graduates finding employment within forty-five days.
Recent education data highlights challenges facing Maricopa County students: 62.9% of students in grades three through eight did not pass mathematics on the AASA during the 2022-23 school year; 65% of high schoolers failed mathematics on the ACT; 57.2% failed English on AASA; while 57% failed English on ACT exams during that period.
However,33.9% of high schoolers passed mathematics on ACTs during the following academic year (2023-24), while 36% of students from grades three through eight passed mathematics on AASA tests.
According to Maricopa County officials, Human Services Department Workforce Development Career Centers were visited more than sixteen thousand times last fiscal year by residents seeking career support or funding for further training opportunities.
