It’s official. Arizona has added more than half a million private sector jobs under Governor Doug Ducey, according to the latest employment report released by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity. Since January 2015, 500,200 private sector jobs have been added, placing Arizona in the top tier of states for job growth over the past eight years. Arizona ranks sixth for the total number of jobs added and fourth among all states for employment rate of growth.


READ ALSO: 2023 economic outlook: Prepare for landing

READ ALSO: The 2023 Phoenix commercial real estate outlook and opportunities


“When we took office, our economy was broken, and fixing it was a top priority,” said Governor Ducey. “The engine of our economic growth has always been our people. Today, Arizonans have access to abundant jobs as well as the opportunity to work in good-paying industries with the potential for advancement. With this kind of momentum and our incredible talent, Arizona is unstoppable.” The milestone coincides with a surge in Arizona’s manufacturing industry, with high-tech industries such as semiconductors, batteries, and electric vehicles seeing substantial growth. Over the last year, Arizona has added more than 15,000 manufacturing jobs, representing the fastest growth rate in the country. “The Governor’s tenure has been transformational for our state,” said Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. “With his leadership, the right business environment, and a thriving innovation ecosystem, Arizona has become an international hub of advanced manufacturing, bringing new opportunities for small businesses and rural communities across our state.” More jobs has meant more opportunity in Arizona. Since 2015, the number of people in poverty in Arizona has decreased by over 220,000 individuals – the fastest decline in the nation. “For a mid-sized manufacturing business like us, Arizona’s growing economy has meant more opportunities to expand and grow,” said Steve Macias, President of Pivot Manufacturing. “That’s the beauty of attracting high-impact jobs in manufacturing and other sectors. Local businesses benefit immensely, and we’re thankful to Governor Ducey for all his work to support local businesses over these last eight years.”

Background

Arizona has seen a cascade of major jobs announcements recently. Last week, TSMC announced an expansion of its Arizona operations to two chip factories, representing $40 billion in total investment and 4,500 jobs. In Tucson last week, American Battery Factory announced a $1.2 billion lithium ion battery factory, with the potential to create 1,000 jobs. The next day, Sion Power, a leading technology developer of next-generation batteries for electric vehicles, announced an expansion of its Tucson operations, creating 150 jobs. Over the last year, more than a dozen semiconductor technology companies have announced expansions in Arizona, including manufacturers and suppliers. Small businesses are also thriving. Since 2015, Arizona has added more than 20,000 business enterprises. Similarly, a study released last week ranks Arizona as a top five best state to hire workers. The report from Career Cloud notes that Arizona, “offers employers a large, well-educated workforce and pro-business regulatory environment.”