According to the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy’s 2023 Small Business Profile, a staggering 97.4% of businesses in the State of Arizona are small businesses with less than 20 employees. That number climbs to 99.5% when we include businesses with 20-499 employees, which is still considered a small business. Combined with the state’s workforce needs in healthcare, construction, mining, manufacturing, education, and pretty much every other industry, it begins to feel impossible to both run a business AND engage in workforce solutions that would benefit them directly or indirectly. And we know that it’s not just a local challenge. It’s been a national conversation in workforce gatherings on how we effectively get businesses and employers “to the table,” and engaged in solutions.

Your Tucson Metro Chamber undoubtedly believes it's possible and that, in a community like Pima’s, it's just a matter of convening the right folks at the right time for this dialogue.

This is to say, we can’t do this without you. We need you.

Employers who are actively and consistently engaged and understand the role they play in improving outcomes for workers, make a huge difference in economic growth. But what does active engagement look like? Is it employers attending meetings to help determine workforce priorities? Is it employers investing to meet those priorities? Or is it employers providing internship or apprenticeship opportunities? Or could it be employers taking action inside of their own organizations to invest in training, policies, and practices that support equitable employee retention and career advancement? Or does it look different from employer to employer?

Also, and perhaps more importantly, what are the barriers that prevent employers from engaging in workforce solutions? I suspect one major reason is that employers might be feeling that their time is scarce. We understand that as a small business, your time is incredibly precious and often stretched thin. Balancing the demands of running a business with the need to engage in broader workforce solutions can seem daunting. However, even the smallest amount of time you can contribute is immensely valuable. Your insights and experiences are crucial in shaping effective workforce strategies that benefit Pima’s economic growth. Whether it's a brief meeting, a quick survey, or a short conversation, your participation can make a significant impact.

We also want to hear from you about any other barriers you face in engaging with these efforts. What challenges, beyond time constraints, prevent you from getting involved? By understanding these barriers, we can work together to find ways to support your involvement and make it as easy as possible.

The bottom line is that your engagement in workforce solutions matters so much. When you actively engage, your Chamber can more effectively advocate on your behalf for workforce policies that will help your business employ and retain local talent, such as advocating for public/private partnerships on quality, affordable and accessible childcare for employees. How exciting would that be to help remove the barriers in building the workforce that matters for your business?!

Your insight and input are invaluable to addressing the workforce challenges in Pima County. It matters to the local economy, it matters to the local workforce, and it matters to you as a business.

My name is Frank Velásquez Jr. and I am the Director of Workforce Advocacy at the Tucson Metro Chamber. Email me directly at fvelasquezjr@tucsonchamber.org. Let’s talk workforce solutions. First, 1:1 then collectively with other business leaders just like you.

Together we can come up with workforce solutions that will make your business thrive and our community prosper.