By Roland Murphy for AZBEX
The Arizona Construction sector dropped 3,700 jobs in December, making it the sector with the second greatest losses for the month.
Arizona’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 3.8%, according to the latest report published by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity. The November rate was 3.7%.
The national unemployment rate fell to 4.1%, down from 4.2%. In December 2023, Arizona had a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.2%. The national rate was 3.7%.
Arizona had a not-seasonally adjusted loss of 300 nonfarm employment jobs month-over-month. “Prior to the pandemic (2010-2019), NSA nonfarm employment gained 5,600 jobs on average in December,” the report states.
The private sector gained 4,500 jobs over the month, led by Trade, Transportation & Utilities with 5,000 new jobs and Other Services with 1,400. Health Care and Social Assistance gained 800. Closely related to Construction, Natural Resources and Mining gained 100.
Of the 12 sectors tracked, eight reported gains over the month. Along with Construction’s loss of 3,700, losses were also reported in Government (-4,800), Private Educational Services (-900) and Manufacturing (-100).
Year-over-year, nine of the 12 sectors reported gains, led by Health Care and Social Assistance’s addition of 24,000. Construction led year-over-year losing sectors with a drop of 3,000 jobs. Manufacturing and Information both lost 900.
Construction Employment
Statewide construction employment totals 215,100 jobs. In December 2023, the sector reported 218,100.
The Arizona Construction sector features three major segments: Buildings, Heavy, and Specialty Trades. There are currently 51,200 jobs in Buildings, which is down 1,200 from November and up 5,400 from December 2023. Heavy Construction lost 100 for the month for 25,900 and gained 100 over the year. Specialty Trades dropped by 4,800 over the month for a total of 138,000, and the segment has lost 8,500 year-over-year.
Construction jobs in the Phoenix Metro Area (Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale) dropped 3,000 over the month for a total of 169,100. The December 2023 number was 174,200. Metro Tucson fell 200 over the month to hit 20,600, which is a loss of 400 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 dropped 100, finishing at 3,700. Flagstaff was unchanged with 3,000. Prescott fell by 200, ending at 6,900. Lake Havasu City-Kingman dropped 100 to 4,600, and Sierra Vista-Douglas was unchanged, reporting 2,100.