Workforce and Training
Strong State and Local Talent Pipeline
Arizona, Greater Phoenix, and Mesa Gateway Airport offer unparalleled access to a highly skilled and educated workforce. As one of the fastest-growing regions in the country, Greater Phoenix’s population is projected to exceed 6 million residents by 2034. Over 73% of the population aged 25+ within 30 minutes of the Airport has at least some college education or higher. Supported by a robust educational infrastructure, a deep-rooted aerospace and defense industrial base, competitive labor costs, and an exceptional quality of life, the region has the pieces necessary to help your business grow.
Workforce Demographics–Within 30 minutes of Mesa Gateway Airport
Population Data
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 1,645,320 |
| 2025 | 1,748,032 |
| 2030 (Projected) | 1,829,846 |
| Population Change (actual v. projected 2020-2030) | 11.2% |
Education Level
| Degree | % of Population 25+ | Population 25+ |
|---|---|---|
| Some College | 21.5% | 255,977 |
| Associate Degree | 10.3% | 122,631 |
| Bachelor’s Degree or Greater | 41.4% | 492,906 |
| Totals | 73.2% | 871,514 |
Source: ESRI
Education
Located on or immediately adjacent to the Airport is a broad portfolio of career and technical education high schools, a community college, and multiple universities. These institutions prepare their students to meet the ever-changing needs of today’s industries, whether by conducting intensive research or by providing hands-on experience with industry professionals in the classroom.
See text description of map.
Four education and training institutions sit on or immediately adjacent to the Gateway Airport campus, west and south of the runways:
- Chandler-Gilbert Community College, a Maricopa Community College – on the airport campus off Innovation Way North
- Arizona State University – on the airport campus off Innovation Way South
- EVIT (East Valley Institute of Technology), College and Career – west of the airport near Verona Avenue
- American Leadership Academy Applied Technologies – south of the airport near Pecos Road.
- The airport campus is bounded by East Ray Road and Loop 202 to the north, Ellsworth Road and State Route 24 to the east, Power Road to the west, and Pecos Road to the south, with South Sossaman Road running north–south through the site.
- Provides students with broad exposure to the aviation industry including aircraft maintenance and professional flight.
- Offers industry focused curriculum and provides pathways towards A&P certification.
- Features an Aircraft Maintenance Technician program that graduates more than 50 techs a semester.
- Heavy industry participation in the classroom equips students with the skills necessary to make an immediate impact.
- Largest University in US
- Home to the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, the country’s largest engineering school with over 32,000 students.
- Programs located on the Polytechnic campus include engineering, advanced manufacturing, and aviation.
Workforce Development
Businesses are dynamic, and operational needs can rapidly evolve. The newly established Aerospace & Defense Future48 Workforce Accelerator at Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) is ready to support your business through hands-on training, industry-standard equipment, and expert instruction to meet your aerospace and defense talent needs. CGCC also has industry-based bootcamps that can fast-track training to help bridge the gap between education and your talent requirements. Industry partnerships are a staple of these programs, as partners help align the curriculum with relevant needs, provide training resources, and ensure graduates can make an immediate impact in the workforce.
Interested in Labor Data?
Contact us at +1 (480) 988-7662 or asmith@gatewayairport.com for a detailed labor report for your industry.
