PHOENIX (STN) – Numbers released early Tuesday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show that as of July there were nearly 170,000 open jobs in Arizona. While the new numbers represent a drop from the June report, the state continues to face a worker shortage.
“The hot topic in mid-2024 is this craziness around a labor shortage. It’s real,” said UMOM CEO Jackson Fonder.
As companies look to fill thousands of open jobs, one of the biggest hurdles in hiring is that a majority of applicants may not have the necessary skills. Yet, mention “workforce development” in almost any professional setting, and responses range from disinterested eye rolls to bored yawns.
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“Workforce development is sort of a simple term, but it covers a lot of things,” Fonder said. “And when you bring up the topic, sometimes people’s eyes glaze over.”
Fonder’s comments came during the September debut of ‘Leading in the Moment,’ a new segment of ‘It Happens at STN.’ He was joined in a panel discussion by UMOM COO Monique Lopez, Marcia Mintz, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley, and USAA Regional Site Director Patrick Fitzhugh.
“We needed this addressed probably ten years ago from where we’re at today,” Fitzhugh said.
“The hot topic in mid-2024 is this craziness around a labor shortage. It’s real”
- Jackson Fonder / CEO, UMOM
Throughout the discussion addressing the labor shortage, two strategies kept emerging: workforce development should happen internally and workforce training should start at a younger age.
“Regardless of trade or skills, there are core skills that are missing in newer, younger employees,” Fitzhugh explained. “Everything from critical thinking, communication, how to take effective notes, how you send an email.”
Noticing these issues with the younger workforce, Mintz and her team at Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley launched ‘AZ Youth Force’ a few years ago, a program that helps teens develop skills for future jobs.
“We’re seeing that leaning into training and onboarding people who have been with you for a while is mission-critical for success.”
- Monique Lopez / COO, UMOM
“We wanted to look at what’s happening to teens,” Mintz said. “A lot of the funding you see out there is really for post-high school, but we know that’s too late. You have to start life and career readiness while they’re in high school. We’re now starting in middle school.”
When it comes to the internal development of existing employees, Lopez explained that systems must be put in place to leverage the talent organizations already have, whether through promotions or employees taking on new responsibilities.
“In order to do that, you really have to invest in the training of your talent,” she said. “It’s not just enough to promote folks, it’s making sure that the skills you’re looking for are there. We’re seeing that leaning into training and onboarding people who have been with you for a while is mission-critical for success.”
While the ideas of training workforces at younger ages and launching internal workforce development initiatives may sound daunting, Fonder wrapped up the panel discussion with a reminder that small steps are still progress.
“It doesn’t take wholesale change,” Fonder said. “You can do this in increments. You can do this with nuances. You can do this by making tweaks and adjustments.”
‘Leading in the Moment’ is co-produced by UMOM in conjunction with STN. It features discussions surrounding thought leadership and how leaders can better address complicated issues throughout this season of ‘It Happens at STN.’
