Maricopa colleges fill vital workforce gaps in booming industries, opening doors for students
Oct. 13
As a teenager Jessica Robles Moreno learned to work hard while helping her dad do side landscaping jobs on the weekends.
Her plan was to go into the medical field and study nursing. But after a short stint attending Arizona State University’s (ASU) nursing program, she realized it wasn’t her passion.
Through a family member, she learned about the Construction Management degree program at Mesa Community College (MCC). At 19, she is one of the few women enrolled. Robles Moreno always enjoyed doing physical, fast-paced work and that’s what draws her to working in the construction industry.
“Obviously construction has traditionally been seen as a male-dominated field and that feeling that women are now in the construction, it just feels good,” Robles Moreno said.
Robles Moreno has two cousins, both women, who work in the construction industry. She learned from them how much opportunity there is for women to grow in the field.
“It does feel like being a woman who is preparing herself to become a construction manager and work on huge projects like this in the future. It gives me a sense of pride because I’m able to be part of something that is changing,” Robles Moreno said.
Robles Moreno plans to graduate next December with her associates degree from MCC and transfer to ASU to get a bachelor’s degree in construction management.
Construction field expected to grow in Arizona
The construction field is a high-demand industry and is facing a shortage of workers. For every five skilled workers who leave the industry, there are only two trained workers to replace them.
Skilled construction workers are leaving the industry at a high-rate. The average age of a skilled worker is 42 and 22% of workers are over the age of 55. It’s estimated that by 2030, more than 40% of construction workers will leave the industry.
In 2025, the Phoenix construction labor market employed more than 42,000 workers, a 6% increase from the previous year.
Mesa Community College is part of the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD).
MCCCD offers more than 15 construction trades certificates in degrees, making the career accessible and affordable to students like Robles Moreno.
Maricopa Community Colleges focused on other high-growth industries
- Advanced Manufacturing – The manufacturing industry employs more than 195,000 people. MCCCD offers 31 advanced manufacturing programs, including Automation and Robotic Technologies, Electrical Technologies, and Semiconductors.
- Business and Financial Service – Arizona ranks in the top three states in finance and in the top five states in insurance, with more than 504,000 jobs. MCCCD offers two business-focused bachelor’s degrees, along with business and finance related certificates and degrees.
- Healthcare – Due to Arizona’s growing population and aging demographics the healthcare field has a shortage of workers. MCCCD offers more than 70 healthcare programs, including bachelor’s degrees in Nursing, Nuclear Medicine Technology, and Computed Tomography.
- IT – The Valley has one of the fastest growing technology centers and is expected to need more than 4,000 employees this year. MCCCD offers two bachelor’s degrees, 11 associate degrees, over 60 certificates, and three IT-focused microcredentials.
MCCCD has 10 campuses across the Valley and is the largest community college district in the state. The district adds nearly $9 billion in annual income across Maricopa County.
“Our approach is to listen to Arizona’s business and industry leaders and respond by developing programs they need to build a highly skilled talent pipeline,” Maricopa Community Colleges Chancellor Steven Bloomberg said. “By making education affordable, accessible, and flexible, we provide opportunities for every Arizonan to pursue a pathway to high-wage careers in the state’s most in-demand industries.”
Reporting by “Arizona Horizon” Education Solutions Reporter Roxanne De La Rosa. Her role is made possible through grant funding from the Arizona Local News Foundation’s Arizona Community Collaborative Fund and Report for America.
