By Roland Murphy for AZBEX
Arizona’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged from November to December, remaining at 4.3%, according to the latest report published by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
The national unemployment rate was also unchanged month-to-month at 3.7%. Last December, Arizona had a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.0%, while the national rate was 3.5%.
The Construction sector lost 600 jobs around the state last month.
Arizona had a gain of 8,100 jobs in nonfarm employment in November. “Prior to the pandemic (2010-2019), NSA nonfarm employment gained 5,600 jobs on average in December,” the report states.
The private sector gained 10,200 jobs over the month, led by Financial Activities adding 3,800 and Trade, Transportation & Utilities gaining 3,300. Government gained 2,100.
Five of the 11 sectors tracked reported gains in December, while three reported losses. Three were unchanged. Year-over-year, eight of the 11 sectors reported gains, including Construction’s addition of 12,000 jobs.
Construction Employment
Statewide construction employment totals 204,500 jobs. In December 2022, the sector reported 192,500.
The Arizona Construction sector features three major segments: Buildings, Heavy, and Specialty Trades. There are currently 46,700 jobs in Buildings, which is up 1,000 from November and up 5,800 from December 2022. Heavy Construction lost 200 for the month, for a total of 23,700, but added 1,900 over the year. Specialty Trades lost 1,400 over the month for a total of 134,100, and the segment gained 4,300 year-over-year.
Construction jobs in the Phoenix Metro Area (Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale) fell 1,500 over the month for a total of 163,500. The December 2022 number was 153,100. Metro Tucson added 100 construction jobs over the month at 20,600, which is an increase of 900 year-over-year.
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 over the month. Yuma reported 4,200. Flagstaff had 3,100. Prescott totaled 7,200. The Lake Havasu City-Kingman count was 4,300, and Sierra Vista-Douglass reported 2,100.