Business

Despite a weak economy, the four West Valley industries expecting to post the strongest growth in the next 12 months are health care, construction, transportation and retail.

The health-care industry, bolstered by the area's retirement communities and continued specialization, expects to grow its employment ranks by 6 percent, according to a Westmarc-sponsored labor-market study released earlier this month at an economic-development symposium in Avondale. "Health care as an industry will still see a great deal of need," said Jon Bartlett, CEO of Glendale's Arrowhead Hospital.

While the Arrowhead area has been seeing 2 to 3 percent annual population growth, Bartlett said the hospital was seeing 10 percent more patients annually.

He attributed that in part to an aging population and in part to greater specialization and expanded services

The hospital, near 67th Avenue and Union Hills Drive, grew from 500 employees in 2000 to about 900 today. The hospital is expected to swell to more than 1,000 employees by 2010.

Banner Thunderbird Medical Center, the city's largest private employer, is also expected to post dramatic job increases in the next few years, as it is in the midst of a capital-improvement plan.

The labor-market study was based largely on surveys from 1,004 West Valley businesses, each with at least 20 employees. They were completed between August and October.

From there, private consultants filled in further details with data from sources such as the U.S. Census Bureau.

The growth in construction and retail may go hand-in-hand. Cities such as Buckeye say retail is still catching up with residential growth.

The study aims to do more than document where the West Valley is now. City leaders throughout the West Valley talk about the need to lure more high-wage jobs. The study is a tool to that end.

Surprise Economic Development Director John Hagen said his city recently lost two prospective employers because officials couldn't prove a skilled labor force was available.

The labor force wasn't scarce, Hagen said - the data were.

The study intends to resolve that hurdle. It tells planners and the businesses they court about current jobs and workers from Glendale to Gila Bend.

Brokers who work in site selections said the data and its placement online for 24/7 access are critical.

"Data, information and knowledge is everything to (companies)," said Bill Honsaker, managing director at Jones Lang LaSalle, which specializes in finding real estate for the high-tech and industrial sector.

Mary Vanis of the Maricopa Community College District said the study will allow counselors to better advise students on what type of jobs are available.

To find out more about the West Valley market, view the interactive labor study at www.usworks.com/westmarc.