Recently, my long-term executive assistant notified me that she was retiring and relocating to another state to be close to family. She is literally my “right arm” at the office and works diligently to serve our many committees and boards across Northern Arizona. We are a well-oiled machine, and together, we accomplished much success. I started the search for her replacement and a finance position almost eight weeks ago. The pay for this executive position is above the average wage for … [Read more...] about Recognizing the Rewards of Skills-Based Hiring
Yavapai County Workforce Development Board
Workers Remain in High Demand
Workers are still in high demand and the competition continues to be fierce.The Yavapai County employment rate is at 97.3% and the unemployment rate is at 2.7%, which, by most definitions, equals full employment. Since the pandemic, Yavapai County has had disparity between the number of jobs in demand and the number of workers actually seeking employment. Employers in our area have been creative and innovative in their quest to attract and retain workers. Some examples of creativity and … [Read more...] about Workers Remain in High Demand
Welcoming Retirees Back to the Workforce
Many of us have seen the movie “The Intern,” where a retired gentleman seizes a chance to go back to the workforce as a senior intern. He brings a wealth of knowledge and skills, work ethic and dedication, and quickly becomes an invaluable team member. This fictional movie has become a reality for so many retirees returning to the workforce. Retirees have a variety of reasons to return to work. Post-pandemic, many individuals are looking to find a rewarding job opportunity that will make a … [Read more...] about Welcoming Retirees Back to the Workforce
New Year, New Career, New Focus
As we begin 2023, it is a good time to reflect on the past year as a benchmark to set our sights for planning innovative economic strategies. Yavapai County began 2022 with a labor force of 106,288 (ages 16+). Active employment was 103,202 – a difference of 3,086 (unemployment). The official January 2022 Unemployment Rate was 2.9%. Fast-forward to the latest data available as of this writing – the October 2022 labor force increased to 108,343 (+2,055), but the actual employment only … [Read more...] about New Year, New Career, New Focus
Teri Drew Honored with Prestigious ATHENA Leadership Award
Among a sea of fancy hats and fine china, more than 150 community members came out in style to celebrate women in leadership during the third annual Prescott-area ATHENA Awards High Tea, hosted by Quad Cities Business News and Prescott Woman Magazine. With a standing ovation, the crowd honored Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG) Regional Director Teri Drew as the 2022 Prescott-Area ATHENA. In receiving the award, she recognized the support of her husband and high school … [Read more...] about Teri Drew Honored with Prestigious ATHENA Leadership Award
Going Back to the Workplace
Since the pandemic, we have seen the pendulum swing from the “Great Resignation” to the “Great Retention.” Now we are experiencing the “Great Return!” There are two sides to every coin – the front and the back. The front side of the “inflation coin” is the most obvious side that everyone talks about, such as the high prices at the grocery store and the gas pump. However, the back side doesn’t get as much attention, but it’s just as important – inflation is driving workers back to the … [Read more...] about Going Back to the Workplace
Workforce Development Impacts
The Yavapai County Workforce Development Board (WDB), a County-appointed group of private sector business professionals, educators and public sector leaders within Yavapai County, recently adopted a “continuous improvement” mindset as it relates to the work of overseeing the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) programs for building a highly skilled talent pipeline through a public sector/private sector partnership with the state, county, training providers, local employers and job … [Read more...] about Workforce Development Impacts
Connecting Employers with Job Seekers
"Help Wanted” signs are in the windows and on marquees of businesses all over Yavapai County. It seems nearly everyone feels the challenges of attracting and maintaining the staffing required to operate and provide the desired and necessary services to our community, whether you are the business owner or the consumer. According to the Emsi Quarter 2 Data Set (economicmodeling.com), Yavapai County’s population increased by 19,335 in the last five years and is projected to grow by 16,131 through … [Read more...] about Connecting Employers with Job Seekers
Be the Change You Want to See
According to the Emsi Quarter 2 2022 Data Set, Yavapai County’s population is 209,468, and those in the labor force as of December 2021 were 110,085, or about 44% of the total population. There were 107,600 employed (97%) and 2,485 unemployed (2.3%). Statistics show that baby boomers, the 76 million Americans that were born between 1946 and 1964, have been exiting the labor force in record numbers. Yavapai County’s 55 and older population is 120,979 (58% of the total population), while the … [Read more...] about Be the Change You Want to See
NACOG Demonstrates Leadership
Having recently passed the 45-year milestone in my career at the Northern Arizona Council of Governments, I pause to reflect on the shaping of the leadership legacy that has brought me to my station in life today. I have enjoyed and had the great privilege of rubbing shoulders with great leaders on the national, state and local stage and have experienced many opportunities to lead and innovate to effect change in my community, region, state and country. I learned early on that real leaders … [Read more...] about NACOG Demonstrates Leadership