GPEC has again received the Mac Conway Award for Excellence in Economic Development by Site Selection magazine. It is awarded to the top-20 local and regional U.S. economic development groups of 2020. This is a reflection of broad community collaboration and resiliency.
This semester’s projects included a PC rhythm game, a goal-setting app, a customizable 3D garment interface, a digital course for content creators, an alternative login solution based on steganography, a discord bot for reporting cheaters, a stealth game that flips the traditional role of lighting to offer new perspectives, a secure flash drive that uses your phone for authentication, a physical server protector, a multi-player AR game, a reading log book light for kids, and more.
Over the last 12 months, many companies have allowed employees to work from home and work remotely. Some have even done a complete 180 hiring out-of-state team members for the first time. For many employers, COVID-19 forced flexibility on a previously closed mindset. According to Enterprise Technology Research, the percentage of employees permanently working from home is expected to double in 2021.
The Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation is excited to launch its Summer Virtual Cybersecurity and IT Externship Rotation. This is a structured two-week program containing a cohort of participants from across Arizona, including high school, community college, university students and veterans who will rotate through industry experiences provided by multiple and diverse businesses.
As part of an $8 million ASU-led U.S. Department of Labor grant, Arizona Technology Council joins a collaborative of community partners to establish the Arizona Workforce Training Accelerator Partnership for Next Generation Jobs (AZNext). The partnership will enhance regional competitiveness, address workforce shortages and train workers for high-demand jobs in advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity and IT.
PADT, Inc. is named a Stratasys Diamond Partner; semiconductor manufacturer Intel Corporation to invest $20B in Arizona expansion; Blue Yonder set to be acquired by Panasonic; body-cam innovator Axon solidifies the foundation for its next decade of growth; Arizona State University receives grant funding aimed at workforce upskilling and reskilling; the Greater Phoenix Chamber launches diversity and inclusion program for employers; and more. Check out the complete update.
With Greater Phoenix being referred to as “the tech capital of the Southwest” many innnovative startups and companies have been flocking to the area over the past five years. Veteran staffing firm Paragon IT Professionals can help companies struggling to find qualified candidates. As an expert in tech talent, Paragon has spent the past 24 years focused on helping companies quickly attract hard-to-find talent.
Despite a challenging year caused by the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Arizona’s technology sector was able to rebound quickly and even outpace Q4 2019 in several significant growth metrics. The Arizona Technology Council’s latest quarterly Arizona Technology Industry Impact Report provides insight on the progress of the state’s tech sector. The new data shows a 29% increase in STEM job postings in December 2020 vs. December 2019 and a 4.3% growth in Arizona technology companies year-over-year.
Tech salaries in Phoenix grew 7.6% from 2019 to 2020, reaching an average of $95,514. This pacing landed Phoenix as 7th on the list of fastest growing tech salaries in the country. Last year the fastest growth came in Charlotte, North Carolina, which saw a 13.8% change, followed by Orlando, Florida (13.4%) and New York City (11.6%).
Phoenix College announced the virtual Future of Work Summit on March 4, 2021. The event will review economic trends and provide a snapshot of the Phoenix market, informing, and guiding important questions. Sessions will focus on workforce trends, the current workforce landscape, how can community colleges can help support businesses in the areas they serve, as well as work-based experiences for or increased opportunities in training and workforce development.