THATCHER — The first step in creating a policy paper on workforce development, that can be used by local and state government officials as well as the private and educational sectors, occurred at Eastern Arizona College on Thursday.
The first Arizona Town Hall session for this year’s topic — Building Arizona’s Workforce —took advantage of more than 300 people from around the state in attendance at the Rural Policy Forum.
Participants were asked for their input on four questions:
- What impacts Arizona’s ability to have the workers it needs for a thriving economy?
- How well do educational organizations, federal, state and private programs support creating skilled and qualified talent to meet employer and community needs?
- What roles do housing, transportation, and childcare play in meeting Arizona’s workforce needs?
- What creative strategies can help meet Arizona’s workforce needs?
“Maybe the thing that surprised me the most is to hear a lot of people talk about the need for taxes and tax increases,” said moderator Tara Jackson. “That’s very surprising in Arizona.”
What was not surprising, she said, was hearing participants talk about the need for affordable housing, childcare and the changing demographics in the rural parts of the state.
Right now, there are about three people aged 25-64 in Arizona’s workforce for every person 65 and older. That’s down by almost half from 1954, and is projected to reduce again by a third by 2054.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
Town Halls will take place across the state through November, and the notes from every session will be collected into a working paper.
The 2026 Arizona Town Hall will take on the subject of housing.
