By Roland Murphy for AZBEX
The Arizona Construction sector added 1,200 jobs in October, making the industry one of nine sectors showing gains for the month.
Arizona’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 3.6%, according to the latest report published by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
The national unemployment held steady at 4.1%. Last October, Arizona had a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.2%. The national rate was 3.8%.
Arizona had a not-seasonally adjusted gain of 24,400 in nonfarm employment jobs month-over-month. “Prior to the pandemic (2010-2019), NSA nonfarm employment gained 27,800 jobs on average in October,” the report states.
The private sector gained 23,300 jobs over the month, with Leisure & Hospitality leading gains with the addition of 7,700 jobs. Trade, Transportation & Utilities followed with 5,900. Government gained 1,100.
Of the 12 sectors tracked, nine reported gains over the month. Information was unchanged. Manufacturing lost 500 jobs, and Other Services fell by 400.
Year-over-year, 10 of the 12 sectors reported gains, including Construction’s addition of 3,500 jobs and Natural Resources & Mining’s increase of 1,200. The greatest increases were reported in Health Care and Social Assistance at 25,000 jobs. The two sectors showing losses were Manufacturing, down 2,400, and Information, which lost 900.
Construction Employment
Statewide construction employment totals 219,200 jobs. In October 2023, the sector reported 215,700.
The Arizona Construction sector features three major segments: Buildings, Heavy, and Specialty Trades. There are currently 49,600 jobs in Buildings, which is up 1,500 from September and up 3,700 from October 2023. Heavy Construction added 100 for the month for 25,700 and added 600 over the year. Specialty Trades dropped by 400 over the month for a total of 143,900, and the segment has lost 800 year-over-year.
Construction jobs in the Phoenix Metro Area (Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale) lost 200 over the month for a total of 171,800. The October 2023 number was 171,900. Metro Tucson was unchanged over the month at 20,900, which is an increase of 200 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. Yuma and Flagstaff were unchanged at 3,800 and 3,100, respectively. Prescott added 200 jobs for a total of 7,300. Lake Havasu City-Kingman also gained for a total of 4,800, an addition of 100. Also adding 100 jobs was Sierra Vista-Douglas, which totaled 2,200 for the month.