Ariz. Construction Gained 3,500 Jobs in May

By Tasha Anderson for AZBEX 
Arizona’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 8.9 percent in May 2020, from April 2020, according to the latest report published by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.  
The national rate decreased to 13.3 percent from 14.7 percent in April. In May 2019, the state had a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.8 percent, and the national was at 3.6 percent. 
The state had a net gain of 45,200 non-farm jobs over the month. “Historically (2010-2019), Nonfarm employment has averaged a loss of 6,800 jobs in May,” the report states. Leisure & Hospitality had the largest net gain with 37,200 jobs, followed by Trade, Transportation & Utilities with a gain of 9,000. Construction gained 3,500 jobs over the month. 
Construction took the top spot in job gains from May 2019 to May 2020 with a total of 1,500, while Leisure & Hospitality took the top spot in job losses over the year with 87,000. 
The Construction sector features three major segments: Buildings, Heavy, and Specialty Trades. There are currently 35,000 jobs in Buildings, which increased by 600 from April 2020 and increased 400 from May 2019. Heavy Construction gained 500 over the month for a total of 21,500 and is up 1,500 from May 2019. Specialty Trades increased 2,400 for the month at 115,200, and the segment lost 400 over the year. 
Construction jobs in the Phoenix Metro Area (Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale) increased 200 over the month for a total of 134,200. The May 2019 number was 133,800.  
The Metro Tucson construction jobs gained 1,800 from April for a total of 18,700 and increased by 800 from May 2019. 
Yuma, Flagstaff, Prescott, Lake Havasu City-Kingman and Sierra Vista-Douglas combine Construction and Natural Resources jobs in reporting their job sector totals. Yuma and Lake Havasu City-Kingman each gained 300 for the month for a total of 3,000 and 3,400 respectively. Flagstaff and Sierra Vista-Douglas each gained 200 for the month for a total of 2,300 and 1,900 respectively. Prescott gained 100 jobs for the month for a total of 6,300.