Not only did more people move to the city of Phoenix than any other city between 2015 and 2016, but the city also surpassed Philadelphia as the nation’s fifth largest, the U.S. Census Bureau recently revealed.

Statistics showed that the city welcomed over 32,000 individuals during that time period — averaging 88 people daily. The Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce (GPCC) said that the boom is not merely a testament to the strength of cooperation between civic sectors but that it also means more work lies ahead.

“This great news shows the power of collaborative efforts between the business and education communities and political leaders to create an attractive place for families to thrive and companies to grow,” GPCC President and CEO Todd Sanders said in a press release. “Considering also that Maricopa County was just named the nation’s fastest growing county, this highlights the absolute necessity for us to continue our multi-faceted efforts to train the workforce, help businesses expand and grow the economy.”

GPCC facilitates a business-friendly environment for the Phoenix metropolitan area partly through its relatively new Phoenix Forward initiative, a mutual alliance between the Arizona Commerce Authority, the city of Phoenix and Maricopa County, according to the release.

In addition, Phoenix happens to appeal to diverse populations and tends toward a young median age. The chamber’s vice president of economic development Jennifer Mellor said that the city's population surge will drive the local economy.  

“The growth in IT, health care, advanced manufacturing and entrepreneurship are putting Phoenix’s innovation economy on the map,” Mellor said.

Phoenix’s current population is estimated to be over 1.5 million.