Arizona Construction Gained 2,400 Jobs in October

By Tasha Anderson for AZBEX
Arizona’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 8.0 percent in October 2020, from September 2020, according to the latest report published by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
The national rate decreased to 6.9 percent from 7.9 percent in September. In October 2019, the state had a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.5 percent, and the national was at 3.6 percent.
The state had a net gain of 43,100 non-farm jobs over the month. “Historically (2010-2019), Nonfarm employment has averaged a gain of 27,500 jobs in October,” the report states. Professional & Business Services had the largest net gain with 13,400 jobs, followed by Leisure & Hospitality with a gain of 9,800. Construction gained 2,400 over the month.
Trade, Transportation & Utilities took the top spot in job gains from October 2019 to October 2020 with a total of 17,000, while Leisure & Hospitality took the top spot in job losses over the year with 48,700. Construction reported a 500-job loss over the year.
The Construction sector features three major segments: Buildings, Heavy, and Specialty Trades. There are currently 36,200 jobs in Buildings, which increased by 900 from September 2020 and increased by 300 from October 2019. Heavy Construction gained 200 over the month for a total of 19,900 but is down 1,500 from October 2019. Specialty Trades gained 1,300 for the month at 117,100, and the segment gained 700 over the year.
Construction jobs in the Phoenix Metro Area (Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale) gained 200 over the month for a total of 136,600. The October 2019 number was 136,500.
The Metro Tucson construction jobs gained 400 from September for a total of 18,500 and gained 300 from October 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, Flagstaff, Prescott and Lake Havasu City-Kingman each gained 100 jobs over the month for a total of 2,500, 2,400, 6,800 and 3,700 respectively. Sierra Vista-Douglas remained the same at 2,100 for the month.