By Roland Murphy for AZBEX
Arizona’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.2% from April to May, according to the latest report published by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
The national rate was also unchanged at 3.6%. In May 2021, the state had a seasonally adjusted rate of 5.4%, and the national was 5.8%.
The state had a net loss of 5,500 non-farm jobs over the month. “Prior to the pandemic, nonfarm employment averaged a loss of 6,700 in May (2010-2019),” the report states. Government lost 6,700 in May, fueled largely by losses in public education due to the end of the school year.
Year-over-year, Construction shows a gain of 3,900, and the sector gained 100 jobs in May. Mining & Natural Resources also gained, increasing by 200 for the month.
Ten of the 11 sectors tracked posted year-over-year gains. Leisure & Hospitality led with 32,100, followed by Trade, Transportation & Utilities with 26,400. The only sector showing year-over-year losses in May was Financial Activities, with a drop of 1,000.
Construction Employment
Statewide construction employment totals 180,500 jobs, which increased by 100 from April and up 3,900 from April 2021.
The Arizona Construction sector features three major segments: Buildings, Heavy, and Specialty Trades. There are currently 36,100 jobs in Buildings, which is down 600 from April 2022 and down by 300 from May 2021. Heavy Construction was unchanged for the month with a total of 20,400 but added 1,000 over the year. Specialty Trades added 700 over the month for a total of 124,000. The segment gained 3,200 over the year.
Construction jobs in the Phoenix Metro Area (Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale) fell 300 over the month for a total of 140,600. The May 2021 number was 138,100. Metro Tucson construction jobs were unchanged for the month, totaling 18,000. The April 2021 number was 17,800.
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 Flagstaff were unchanged, totaling of 3,600 and 2,900, respectively. Prescott added 100 to come in at 6,900. Lake Havasu City-Kingman also added 100 to end at 4,400. Sierra Vista-Douglas was unchanged at 2,000.