Connect To Work AZ
Increase Economic Mobility through Career Opportunities
Through our jobs-first workforce approach, we work with employers to identify hiring needs and develop career pathways. Then, we connect qualified unemployed and underemployed candidates directly to hiring managers, impacting economic mobility in Phoenix’s historically underserved communities.
Across Arizona, people look for quality jobs and employers look for qualified people. Often, they struggle to connect. But, those connections are made when they use Connect to Work AZ, powered by Skills for America’s Future (Skills), a jobs-first program through the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation. Now even more of our Arizona neighbors can get the connections and support they need to secure quality jobs.
What kinds of jobs will be offered? We’re partnering with employer partners in healthcare and financial services, with plans to expand into other sectors over time. These industries were chosen because they offer quality, high demand jobs with opportunities for advancement. According to Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG), the healthcare industry employs over 280,000 people in Maricopa County at over 8,000 employers and 198,000 in Finance at over 6,000 employers. (Arizona COG/MPO Employee Database, 2021) Starting wages for workers in these industries are usually at or above the county median wage and offer opportunities for advancement.
Who’s eligible to apply? Connect to Work AZ is designed to place the unemployed or individuals working less than 32 hours a week, or outside of their field of training, The program is especially focused on connecting diverse talent to local employers helping employers better reflect the communities they serve and individuals obtain quality employment with a career path.
Increase Access to Quality Employers
As a nonprofit organization, we remove barriers to employment by eliminating biases that disqualify candidates unnecessarily. Working with local and global companies and trusted community partners, we bring career opportunities with corporate America to Arizonans.
We Begin with the Job
We’ve flipped the traditional workforce development model. We begin with a jobs-first approach, working directly with companies to identify their hiring needs. We then recruit diverse job seekers who are unemployed or underemployed—working under 32 hours a week, or working outside their field—to fill those open opportunities.
We Recruit with Diversity in Mind
Our proven recruitment efforts—including strategic marketing and sourcing— place diverse applicants in quality jobs.
We don’t do it alone
We’re part of the local workforce ecosystem, a network of community-based organizations that provide resources and services to local job seekers. We can refer candidates to organizations for services and organizations refer job ready candidates to us.
