By Roland Murphy for AZBEX
Arizona’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 3.7% in September, up from 3.5% in August, according to the latest report published by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
The national rate fell to 3.5%, up from 3.7%. In Sept. 2021, the state had a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.2%, and the national was 4.7%.
The state had a net gain of 25,200 non-farm jobs over the month. “Prior to the pandemic, nonfarm employment averaged a gain of 28,800 jobs in September (2010-2019),” the report states. Government gained 14,500, fewer than the pre-pandemic average of 23,300. Overall, the private sector showed a gain of 10,700 jobs in September.
Year-over-year, Construction shows a gain of 6,000, and the sector gained 400 jobs in September. Natural Resources & Mining also gained, increasing by 100 for the month.
Ten of the 11 sectors tracked posted year-over-year gains. Education and Health Services led with 26,500, followed by Trade, Transportation and Utilities with 18,300. The only losing sector year-over-year was Financial Activities, which declined by 800 jobs.
Construction Employment
Statewide construction employment totals 186,500 jobs, which increased by 400 from August and was up 6,000 from Sept. 2021.
The Arizona Construction sector features three major segments: Buildings, Heavy, and Specialty Trades. There are currently 37,700 jobs in Buildings, which is down 200 from August 2022 and up by 200 from Sept. 2021. Heavy Construction was unchanged for the month with a total of 20,900 and 600 added over the year. Specialty Trades added 600 over the month for a total of 127,900. The segment gained 5,200 over the year.
Construction jobs in the Phoenix Metro Area (Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale) were unchanged over the month, for a total of 146,500. The Sept. 2021 number was 141,500. Metro Tucson construction was also flat at 18,300. The Sept. 2021 number was 18,200.
Yuma, Flagstaff, Prescott, Lake Havasu City-Kingman and Sierra Vista-Douglas combine Construction and Natural Resources jobs in reporting their job sector totals. Yuma added 100, totaling 3,800. Flagstaff was unchanged at 3,100, as were Prescott at 7,100, Lake Havasu City-Kingman at 4,500 and Sierra Vista-Douglas at 2,100.