Empowering Arizona’s Workforce: Celebrating 85 Years of Collaborative Success Through Registered Apprenticeships

Phoenix - (June 16, 2026) Today, the Department of Economic Security (DES) joins employers, educators, labor organizations, and community partners across the state to celebrate a monumental milestone: the 85th anniversary of Arizona’s Registered Apprenticeship Program. For nearly a century, this powerful, collaborative ecosystem has played a key role in Arizona’s economic growth—shaping our infrastructure and powering our utilities, while building up a reliable, skilled workforce. Today, that same spirit of partnership is expanding into the state’s fastest-growing modern sectors, including semiconductors, cybersecurity, healthcare, and IT.

“Registered apprenticeships are fueling the Silicon Desert because of a shared commitment to innovation,” said DES Director Michael Wisehart. “This success belongs to the network we’ve built together. DES is honored to serve as the bridge connecting visionary employers, forward-thinking educators, and driven individuals who see a dynamic, alternative path to career success.”

Each year, more Registered Apprenticeship programs are established. In fact, 75 new programs across 14 industries were added in State Fiscal Year 2025 alone, as more employers see the value of developing their own talent with the support of the Arizona Apprenticeship Office at DES, and more than 1,000 apprentices joined a registered program within the last year.

“Arizona is taking steps to provide Arizonans with immediate financial stability and long-term career growth as well,” said DES State Apprenticeship Program Director Joann Bueno. “As the cost of traditional education rises, Arizona’s registered apprenticeship program offers pathways to careers with an average starting hourly rate of $31.00. There are currently more than 9,300 Arizonans actively pursuing this ‘earn-while-you-learn’ model.”

The Registered Apprenticeship model succeeds because it unites classroom learning with on-the-job training. It eliminates the financial risk of career transitions by pairing immediate, paid employment with structured learning from day one. Apprentices work as part of a team from the start and build specialized, industry-backed credentials without sacrificing a paycheck. This model bridges the gap between theory and practice, ensuring that as Arizona's tech and healthcare sectors evolve, our workforce evolves with them—gaining the exact, real-time skills local employers need to succeed.

Employers: Don’t Hunt for Talent - Build It.

Registered Apprenticeships are Arizona’s ultimate recruitment and retention tool, boasting a 93% retention rate nationally. Let's collaborate to design a custom talent pipeline trained to your exact operational standards. Partner with us today through the Arizona Registered Apprenticeship Program to secure your future workforce.

Job Seekers: Earn While You Learn

Arizonans ready to jumpstart a high-paying, high-demand career can browse active, local apprenticeship opportunities across various industries. Career seekers can view open programs and learn how to apply by visiting the DES Job Seeker Apprenticeship webpage, visiting their nearest ARIZONA@WORK office for in-person assistance, or applying directly to active programs.

Job seekers and employers alike can start their part of the apprenticeship journey, and join the 85-year history of building Arizona’s workforce, together.