Workforce Development
Workforce Development
Building Arizona’s Future Workforce
SciTech Institute is strengthening Arizona’s workforce by connecting education, industry, and community through hands-on experiences and a shared vision for career readiness. Through innovative tools, career exploration experiences, and skills-based pathways, we help learners discover opportunities while supporting employers in building the workforce of tomorrow.
Preparing Arizona’s Talent Pipeline
SciTech’s workforce initiatives create connections between learners, educators, employers, and communities.
Impact Stats:
- 60+ Cross-Sector Partners
- 84 Industry-Aligned Skills Maps
- 6,454 Students Reached Through Workforce Pathways for Youth
- 425 Students Participating in Arizona’s First Worlds of Work Event
- 18 Out-of-School Time Partners
- 25 Industry Exhibitors at WOW Pinal County
Skills Map Framework
At the core of SciTech’s workforce strategy is the Skills Map Framework, a statewide effort to align what students learn with what employers need.
Developed with more than 60 cross-sector partners, the framework translates workforce expectations into clear, measurable skills. Today, it includes 84 customized Skills Maps across high-demand sectors like aerospace, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, sustainable energy, mining, and technology.
With the launch of Skills Map Framework 2.0, SciTech has expanded focus areas to include digital literacy, foundational knowledge, and career-readiness competencies. Custom Skills Maps in Hospitality, Energy, Mining, Education, and Healthcare are already being used to support career exploration and industry engagement.
The framework is also growing into Out-of-School Time (OST) programs, ensuring that workforce alignment extends beyond the classroom and into community-based learning.
By creating a shared “skills language,” the Skills Map Framework brings clarity to career pathways, helping students, educators, and employers stay aligned every step of the way.
Browse career and technical education programs:
Worlds of Work (WOW)
Career Exploration in Action
SciTech is turning career awareness into real-world experience through Worlds of Work (WOW)—immersive, hands-on events that connect students directly with industry.
Arizona’s first WOW event launched in Pinal County in February 2025, bringing together 425 students, 25 industry exhibitors, and nine schools for a full day of interactive career exploration.
At WOW, students don’t just learn about careers—they try them. From operating tools to solving real-world challenges, participants engage with professionals and see how classroom learning translates into the workplace.
Employers gain early access to future talent, while students build confidence, skills, and a clearer vision of their future.
Expansion Areas:
- Yuma County
- Apache County
- Pima County
- Pinal County
Workforce Pathways for Youth
Expanding Opportunity Statewide
Through the Workforce Pathways for Youth initiative, SciTech is breaking down barriers to STEM careers for rural youth ages 14–21. This initiative blends career exploration, employability skill-building, and regional workforce alignment to ensure students gain meaningful exposure to high-growth industries, no matter where they live.
- 6,454 Students Reached
- 28 Out-of-School Time Partners
- Multiple Workforce Development Board Collaborations
- Year3 Program Growth and Expansion
Focus Areas:
- Career Exploration
- Employability Skills
- Regional Workforce Alignment
Creating a Future-Ready Arizona
Benefits
Arizona’s future depends on a workforce that is prepared, adaptable, and connected. SciTech’s workforce initiatives ensure that:
- Students understand what skills matter and how to build them
- Educators and programs align with real industry needs
- Employers engage early with emerging talent
- Communities, especially rural ones, gain equitable access to opportunity
Join the Workforce Network
- Become a Partner
- Contact Our Workforce Team:
Yvonnda Shelton, Workforce Development Specialist
[email protected]
and
Tom Wilson, Post-Secondary Education and Workforce Specialist
[email protected] - Learn More About SciTech Institute
