Top 20 Jobs in Arizona

The fastest growing job title in Arizona are expected by federal and state government labor departments to occur largely in Education and Healthcare, with some in Information Technology (IT).

Forensics, in the number 14 slot in the 2004 - 2014 forecast listings, dropped out of the top 20 for the official 2006 - 2016 projections. The newer listings require a high level of education, overall, although a few demand only on the job training at no expense to the worker. Ont he other hand, the jobs offering the most openings to 2016 are largely of the OJT variety.

An individual living in, or planning relocation to, Arizona without a job in hand, might begin with a "starter job" such as those offered by the various OJT positions listed below. Arizona also offers a number of opportunities for business ownership (see link below, right).

Native American Nations in Arizona  often are home to hotels and resorts that offer some openings to non-Native peoples, and these Nations need healthcare workers of various skills and education. Two of my friends worked on the Navajo Nation reservation in Arizona for several years, in nursing and social services and were well satisfied with the opportunities and the job satisfaction this offered.

Renewable Energyis a promising 21st Century business opportunity that creates additional jobs in the classification of green collar jobs or green jobs in sustainable business fields. Renewable energy is developed in several forms in Arixon, including solar, geothermal (hot springs, etc.), biomass (forests and landfill gases), and wind energy.See The Arizona Solar Center for some new products and services.

These job titles are forecasted by the state’s workforce and statistics departments to be the fastest growing (largest percentage of increase). They involve Education, Healthcare, and Information Technology(IT) to a large degree. High levels of training are required for many of these occupations, indicated to the right of each job title.

1. Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary* - Doctoral degree
2. Graduate Teaching Assistants - Bachelor's degree
3. Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary - Master's degree
4. Veterinary Techs - Associate degree
5. Entertainment Attendants and Related Workers, All Other - Moderate-term on-the-job training (OJT)
6. Pharmacy Technicians - Moderate-term OJT
7. Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary- Doctorate
8. Economics Teachers, Postsecondary - Doctorate
9. Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary - Master's degree
10. Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers - Doctorate
11. Audio and Video Equipment Technicians - Long-term OJT
12. Network Systems and Data Communications Analysts - Bachelor’s degree
13. Physics Teachers, Postsecondary - Doctorate
14. Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary - Doctorate
15. Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary - Doctorate
16. Dental Hygienists - Associate degree
17. Vocational Education Teachers, Postsecondary - Bachelor's or higher degree, plus work experience
18. Personal and Home Care Aides - Short-term OJT
19. Health Educators - Bachelor's degree
20. Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary - Master's degree

*Postsecondary refers to education beyond the high school diploma or GED certificate level.

The following Top 10 are expected to generate the most job openings in Arizona.

1. Retail Salespersons - Brief OJT
2. Customer Service Representatives - Moderate-term OJT
3. Cashiers - Brief OJTY
4. Waiters and Waitresses -Brief OJT
5. Janitors and Cleaners, cluding Housekeepers - Brief OJT
6. Office Clerks - Brief OJT
7. Combined Food Prep & Service - Brief OJT
8. Manual Laborers and Freight/Material Movers - Brief OJT
9. Mainstream Elementary School Teachers - Bachelor's degree
10. Registered Nurses (RNs) - at least the Associate's degree; some jobs require a BSN.

The Arizona Republic newspaper determines the 100 employers in the state that employee the largest numbers of employees. A recent listing from this organization in 2009 found the leading employers to be:

1. Walmart Stores Inc.
2. Banner Health
3. Wells Fargo & Co. – Financial
4. Raytheon Co. – Missile manufacturing
5. Apollo Group Inc. – Education
6. McDonald's Corp. – Fast food
7. Kroger Co. – Grocery
8. Honeywell International Inc. - Aerospace
9. Intel Corp. – Semiconductors
10. Target Corp. – Retail
11. US Airways - Transportation
12. Bashas' Supermarkets
13. JP Morgan Chase & Co. – Financial
14. Safeway Inc.
15. Home Depot Inc. – Home and garden

Indeed.com is the leading Internet presence for gathering information about job openings across employer web pages, recruiters, news adds, and direct listings. Actual listings for Arizona include 50,000+ jobs, with the the most openings in the following positions. Currently, these listings do not match the official projections provided above, except within the second list.

1. Physical Therapists
2. Virtual Direct Selling Expo jobs
3. Sales Managers
4. Physicians/Doctors - Family Practice
5. Sales Associates/Salespersons
6. Assistant General Managers
7. Restaurant General Managers
8. Occupational Therapists
9. Pizza Hut Team Members
10. Restaurant and Food Service Shift Supervisors
11. Pizza Hut Delivery Drivers
12. Customer Service Reps
13. Registered Nurses (RNs)

The largest numbers of job openings are found in the following cities, in order: Phoenix, Tucson, Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa,, Chandler, Glendale, Yuma, Flagstaff, and Sierra Vista.

• American Indian College of the Assemblies of God: Phoenix
• Arizona State University: Tempe
• Arizona State University Polytechnic: Mesa
• Arizona State University West: Phoenix, Arizona
• Coconino Community College: Flagstaff
• Diné College: Tsaile, Window Rock, Chinle, Ganado, Kayenta and Tuba City; also Shiprock and Crownpoint, NM
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University: Prescott AZ and Daytona Beach FL - Business and Science degrees in aviation & aerospace.
• Maricopa Community Colleges, AZ: Several locations
• Midwestern University: Glendale
• Mohave Community College: Several locations
• Northern Arizona University: Flagstaff
• Northland Pioneer College Distance Learning: Holbrook
• Pima Community College: Tucson, AZ
• Prescott College
• Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences: Tempe
• Southwestern College: Phoenix
• The Art Institute of Phoenix
• University of Advancing Technology: Tempe
• University of Arizona: Tucson
• Wayland Baptist University: Phoenix, Sierra Vista, Arizona
• Western Bible College of the Assemblies of God: Phoenix
• Yavapai College: Prescott, Verde Valley, Yavapai

Arizona Community College Board

• Arizona Western College: Yuma
• Central Arizona College: Coolidge
• Cochise College: Douglas, Sierra Vista, Willcox, Benson, Fort Huachuca
• Eastern Arizona College: Thatcher

Federal grants and other funding support projects and programs among Native American nation Arizona and throughout the Southwest, often in coordination with local colleges and universities. Hospitality, Gaming, Healthcare, IT, and other industries provide employment for Native Americans and others among these developing economies. Location nations and their businesses in Arizona include:

• Ak-Chin Indian Community - Ak-Chin Farms and the Ak-Chin Tribal Government are all major employers.
• Yavapai-Apache Nation - Cliff Castle in Camp Verde.
• Navajo Nation -Tourism has the major role in the Navajo Tribe's economy, as is Diné College, the first tribally controlled community college in the country.
• Cocopah Indian Reservation - Cocopah in Somerton. Agriculture is another major industry.
• Colorado River Indian Tribes - Blue Water in Parker.
• White Mountain Apache Tribe - Timber, lumber hardware, and a ski resort also thrive.
• Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation - Agriculture, a sand and gravel center, and a tribally-owned gas station are significant sources of economic activity.
• Fort Mojave Indian Tribe - Mojave Valley and Laughlin, NV
• Gila River Indian Community - The economy includes Gila River farms, sand and gravel operations, a nationally acclaimed industrial park - Lone Butte.
• Havasupai Indian Reservation - Tourism is the base economy, along with a cafe, grocery store, museum, cultural center, and an art-silkscreen studio.
• Hopi Tribe - Agriculture is the base economy, but IT is advancing.
• Hualapai Tribe - The economy centers on tourism, cattle ranching, timber sales, and arts/crafts.
• Kaibab-Pauite Tribe - Economy is based on tourism, livestock, and agriculture - especially a 1,300 tree fruit orchard.
• Pascua Yaqui Tribe - Economy includes a landscape nursery, a manufacturer of adobe blocks, and a bingo hall.
• Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community - Close to the Phoenix metro area, there is a 140-acre retail development called The Pavilions, with a Wal-Mart. Salt River also keeps a 19,000 acre nature preserve. Agriculture and gaming underpin the economy.
• San Carlos Apache Reservation - Part of the Reservation is in the largest stand of ponderosa pines in the world. Lumbering, tourism, cattle ranching and recreation comprise the economy, with a retail shopping complex added for additional growth.
• Tohono O'odham Nation - Economic activities include tourism, an industrial park and a resort.
• Tonto Apache Tribe - Businesses in Payson
• Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe - Economy includes tourism, gaming and retail activities. The tribe owns a 162-room resort, a business park, and a shopping center.
• Fort Yuma-Quechan Tribe - This is an agricultural community, with tourism and a sand and gravel operation. The Tribe operates five trailer and RV parks, a grocery store and a museum.
• San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe - A Economic endeavors include livestock and subsistence farming.

For additional infomration, see: Native American Nations in Arizona