RetailWorks AZ

Why it matters

The retail sector employs more than 320,000 citizens in Arizona, is the fourth largest workforce sector, and is often the first job for youth where they acquire employability skills. RetailWorks AZ is working to build a thriving ecosystem to assist incumbent workers to reach their full potential through skills acquisition and supportive talent management practices by retail employers.

How it works

RetailWorks AZ supports the important role the retail sector plays in Arizona’s economy and in the lives of many Arizonans, whose first job experience and skills are often acquired in retail. Through this initiative, CFA brings education and employee development together in support of front-line, entry level retail workers to make it easier and faster for retail workers to move up the career ladder within retail across Arizona and build a pipeline of skilled talent for the state. 

CFA currently partners with over 20 major retailers and 15 workforce development partners to bring innovative employment practices, wraparound supports, and skills and training to communities across the state.

The RetailWorks AZ initiative is the first of its kind for Arizona and has great potential to be a model nationally for a how a region can tap into the economic development opportunities that come from leveraging the retail industry.