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.
More than 50% of those placed through Connect to Work AZ, were unemployed when they applied for our program.
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 partner with healthcare and financial services employers and plan to expand into other sectors over time. Most roles that we assist with are entry level. These industries were chosen because they offer quality jobs with opportunities for advancement. For example, according to the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity, Healthcare and Social Assistance is expected to add the highest number of jobs of any industry adding over 27,000 new jobs annually over the next 3 years. Financial Services is ranked as the 8th best paying industry in Arizona. Both industries also typically offer excellent benefits such as medical insurance and tuition reimbursement.
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.
Our placed candidates' average salaries are 36% higher than Maricopa County's minimum wage.
We only partner with employers that offer quality benefits and opportunities for advancement. Our employers not only offer health insurance and tuition reimbursement, in some cases they even offer sign-on bonuses.
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. 56% of current Connect to Work AZ placements identify as people of color.
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.
