By Tasha Anderson for AZBEX
Arizona’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 6.7 percent in March 2021, from February 2021, according to the latest report published by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
The national rate decreased to 6 percent from February. In March 2020, the state had a seasonally adjusted rate of 5 percent, and the national was at 4.4 percent.
The state had a net gain of 16,100 non-farm jobs over the month. “Historically (2011-2020), Nonfarm employment has averaged a gain of 7,600 jobs in March,” the report states. Leisure & Hospitality had the largest net gain of 6,900 jobs, followed by Construction with a gain of 3,200.
Trade, Transportation & Utilities took the top spot in job gains from March 2020 to March 2021 with a total of 19,100, while Leisure & Hospitality took the top spot in job losses over the year with 46,700. Construction reported an 800-job loss over the year.
The Construction sector features three major segments: Buildings, Heavy, and Specialty Trades. There are currently 34,400 jobs in Buildings, which increased by 300 from February 2021 and decreased by 1,900 from March 2020. Heavy Construction increased by 400 over the month for a total of 20,500 and gained 100 over the year. Specialty Trades gained 2,500 for the month at 118,700, and the segment gained 1,000 over the year.
Construction jobs in the Phoenix Metro Area (Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale) gained 2,700 over the month for a total of 133,100. The March 2020 number was 136,500.
The Metro Tucson construction jobs increased to 18,300 from 18,100 in February 2021. The March 2020 number was also 18,100.
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 both gained 100 over the month for a total of 3,800 and 4,000 respectively. Flagstaff and Sierra Vista-Douglas both remained the same over the month for a total of 2,600 and 3,500 respectively. Prescott gained 200 over the month for a total of 6,800 jobs.