Maricopa County apprenticeship fair in Surprise draws employers; county reports 91 check-ins in first 30 minutes

Maricopa County Workforce Development hosted an apprenticeship fair in Surprise that drew dozens of employers and, according to county staff, at least 91 check-ins in the first 30 minutes.

The county said the event promoted registered-apprenticeship openings in high-demand fields such as commercial truck driving and skilled trades, and highlighted a multi-year investment the Board of Supervisors has made in apprenticeship programs. "In the last 3 years, the Board of Supervisors has invested $12.5 million into registered apprenticeships in high demand fields like construction, advanced manufacturing, and health care," a Maricopa County Workforce Development staff member said.

County staff said the county set a goal of 3,000 apprentices by 2026 and is "well on our way" toward that target. "Our most in demand positions are gonna be CDL drivers, class A, class B. As we know, the driver shortage is hitting everybody. Laboring, entry level positions is really big for us too right now," the staff member said.

Christian Garcia, a West Valley job seeker trying to land an electrical apprenticeship, said apprenticeships provide hands-on training alongside experienced tradespeople. "You're working with people that might have been in the trade for 20, 30, 40 years. The older people are, you know, retiring and, like, they're just passing their legacy down to, like, to the younger generation, which is us. They're, like, just giving them all the knowledge they can, you know, before they're retired," Garcia said.

Organizers said employers at the fair were recruiting for multiple apprenticeship and entry-level positions. There were no formal votes or policy decisions recorded at the event; the fair served as outreach and recruitment connected to the county's ongoing apprenticeship initiative.