By Roland Murphy for AZBEX – BEXCLUSIVE
Arizona’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 3.5% in June, up from 3.4% for the month of May, according to the latest report published by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
The national unemployment rate decreased to 3.6% from 3.7%. In June 2022, Arizona had a seasonally adjusted rate of 3.8%, while the national rate was 3.6%.
Construction led Arizona employment sectors reporting job gains, adding 1,500.
The state had a loss of 39,800 non-farm jobs. “Prior to the pandemic (2010-2019), NSA nonfarm employment lost 51,600 jobs on average in June,” the report states.
The private sector lost 1,500 jobs over the month, led by Leisure & Hospitality losing 4,300 and Private Education & Health Services losing 1,500. Government lost 38,300, mostly in the subcategory of Local Government Education.
Seven of the 11 sectors tracked gained jobs in June; four experienced losses. Year-over-year, nine of the 11 sectors reported gains, including Construction’s addition of 2,300 jobs.
Construction Employment
Statewide construction employment totals 197,700 jobs, which increased by 1,500 from the May total. In June 2022 the sector reported 195,400.
The Arizona Construction sector features three major segments: Buildings, Heavy, and Specialty Trades. There are currently 43,100 jobs in Buildings, which is up 1,000 from May and up 1,200 from June 2022. Heavy Construction gained 400 over the month, for a total of 22,900, and added 800 over the year. Specialty Trades increased by 100 over the month for a total of 131,700, and the segment gained 300 year-over-year.
Construction jobs in the Phoenix Metro Area (Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale) gained 2,500 over the month for a total of 159,100. The June 2022 number was 152,700. Metro Tucson construction jobs were unchanged for the month at 19,800 and down 100 year-over-year.
While it may appear contradictory that statewide Construction employment only increased by 1,500 jobs while the Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale MSA increased by 2,500, Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity Labor Market Information Director Doug Walls explained the 1,000-job difference in an email, “The remaining job activity in the Construction industry was attributed to non-reporting sub-state areas. The (Bureau of Labor Statistics) generates industry job estimates for seven metropolitan statistical areas, which cover eight Arizona counties. The remaining seven counties are defined as non-reporting sub-state areas.”
Yuma, Flagstaff, Prescott, Lake Havasu City-Kingman and Sierra Vista-Douglas combine Mining and Construction jobs in reporting their job sector totals. All were unchanged from May to June, with Yuma at 4,200, Flagstaff at 2,900, Prescott at 7,100, Lake Havasu City-Kingman at 4,300, and Sierra Vista Douglas at 2,000.