Employment in the construction industry is booming across the country, increasing by more than 250,000 workers since last year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics . Arizona is one of the states experiencing the most growth and the Phoenix-metro area alone had one of the highest employment rates in the construction industry in 2023, the BLS reported. Austin McCabe, who worked as an electrician for about a year before he lost his job, is one of the many newcomers to construction.
Kinsella specifically pointed out chip manufacturing, and the supply chain that comes with it, as a "great opportunity" for the Phoenix-metro. She said another great opportunity brewing in the area is the ability to "introduce people to the trades and help them see that construction is a career and one that you can absolutely be successful in.