So how do Arizona’s two largest metro areas stack up when it comes to opportunities for STEM positions? The answer is, pretty well. WalletHub ranked Tucson No. 21 and Phoenix No. 38 among the country’s top 100 most populous metro areas.
Arizona enjoys a diverse mix of tech industries and professions, with the average technology wage nearly double the average wage in non-tech sectors. Currently, employees in computer systems design, semiconductor manufacturing, and aerospace product and parts manufacturing account for roughly half of all annual wages across the state of Arizona.
Help to create the STEM workforce of tomorrow: Take advantage of the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit and make a donation to Science For All, a program of SciTech Institute—the foundation of the Arizona Technology Council—which provides disadvantaged youth with employer-education partnerships where they gain first-hand knowledge and workforce experience.
Chandler Innovations, a technology-focused business incubator and idea accelerator, has launched its new Jr. Track education and mentorship program, which helps lead high school students through the process of finding a problem or need, identifying a solution and developing their concept until it becomes a marketable prototype.
Zovio, an education technology services company, is partnering with the Arizona SciTech Festival and the SciTech Institute™ to encourage STEM exploration and education in Arizona. As a Silver Sponsor of the 2020 Arizona SciTech Festival, which runs from January 25 to April 30, 2020, Zovio is helping to foster STEM education in more than 80 cities and towns statewide.
With Arizona’s technology sector growing at a pace 40% faster than the rest of the nation, we are increasingly pleased with the Governor’s leadership in investing in K12, higher education and specifically in STEM. The Council is advocating for STEM ecosystem investment and cultivation as one of its 2020 legislative priorities, and we look forward to working with the Governor on making our vision a reality.
Support low-income youth in Arizona and get a tax credit on your Arizona state tax return by donating to Science For All, which provides Arizona students with skills necessary for securing employment in STEM fields.
The Center for the Future of Arizona announced its award from the U.S. Department of Education to advance its Career Connected Pathways (CCP) work addressing Arizona’s urgent need to increase postsecondary enrollment and attainment—particularly of high-needs students—through pathways focused on preparing students for careers in STEM fields
That was the focus of a workshop hosted during the SciTech Institute’s 2019 STEM & Innovation Summit. Many schools claim they have great STEM programs, but often offer little to students beyond AP science courses or after-school clubs. Sometimes, some teachers and administration members within a school may not even be aware of what their STEM curriculum looks like.
To keep its constituents up to date on the advances in Arizona’s technology community, the Arizona Technology Council announced the latest update of the 2019 Quarterly Arizona Technology Council Industry Impact Report. The data demonstrates Arizona has been successful in attracting a wide variety of technology companies large and small. This is leading to both job growth and STEM talent staying in Arizona to work and live. The progress shows that Arizona is quickly becoming one of the leading technology hubs in the nation.