Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, a major employment hub in Arizona with a role in supporting more than 47,000 jobs, recently achieved a notable milestone in workforce development. In a display of commitment to talent cultivation and career advancement within the aviation industry, the airport has been awarded a Level 3 rating in the Airport Workforce Development Accreditation Program. This accolade was presented during the Airports Council International – North America & Airports Council International World General Assembly, Conference and Exhibition.
Chad Makovsky, the Aviation Director of Phoenix Sky Harbor, stressed the importance of the airport's initiatives. "Phoenix Sky Harbor has long been committed to investing in its people and fostering community partnerships," he said in a statement obtained by the Phoenix Government Newsroom. The significance of this accreditation is underscored by the fact that Phoenix Sky Harbor stands among only four airports that hold this rating or higher, and it marks its first year in the program.
The accreditation program evaluates performance across several domains, including safety, customer experience, environmental sustainability, and workforce development. It operates on a five-tier scale, ranging from "Building the Base" at Level 1 to "Shaping Tomorrow" at Level 5. To attain a Level 3 certification, Phoenix Sky Harbor demonstrated comprehensive workforce development strategies and engagement with community and youth, defining critical job skills as well as the means to help employees acquire and improve these competencies.
Efforts to reach this point have been multifaceted. The airport conducts monthly job fairs, an initiative that started in November 2021, to present career opportunities to job seekers, brought together by an array of companies. To date, nearly 50 job fairs have taken place, with 15-20 businesses participating in each event. The airport also runs structured onboarding programs and continues to verify close collaborations with local educational institutions to highlight aviation careers, particularly focusing on science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) fields.
For two consecutive years, the airport has joined forces with the Support Sky Harbor Coalition and New Pathways for Youth to offer an educational program giving young people an insider's look at aviation careers. These efforts are part of a broader strategy by Phoenix Sky Harbor to advance within the accreditation program and ensure sustainable development for its workforce.
For more details about employment opportunities at Phoenix Sky Harbor and their ongoing job fairs, interested parties can visit skyharbor.com/jobs. Information on the Airport Workforce Development Accreditation Program is also available for those seeking further insight into the framework for improving airport workforce performance. With an economic impact exceeding $44 billion and an average of 130,000 passengers daily, Phoenix Sky Harbor continues to be a significant contributor to the local economy, all without the support of tax dollars.
