By Roland Murphy for AZBEX
The Arizona Construction sector lost 400 jobs in July, according to the latest report published by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 4.1%.
The national unemployment rate rose to 4.2%, up from 4.1% in June. In July 2024, Arizona had a seasonally adjusted rate of 3.6%. The national rate was 4.2%.
Arizona had a not-seasonally adjusted loss of 18,600 nonfarm employment jobs month-over-month. “Prior to the pandemic (2010-2019), private sector employment averaged a loss of 7,000 jobs in July,” the report states.
Year-over-year results showed a seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment increase of 34,300 people, or 1.1%.
The private sector lost 13,400 jobs, led by Leisure & Hospitality, down 7,900 jobs, and Trade, Transportation & Utilities, which shed 4,200. Government lost 5,200, which is significantly fewer than the pre-pandemic average of 12,900.
The 12 sectors tracked showed only three with gains: Health Care and Social Assistance gained 2,900; Financial Activities increased by 1,200, and Natural Resources & Mining rose by 300.
Year-over-year, eight of the 12 sectors reported gains, led by Health Care and Social Assistance’s addition of 22,200. Construction saw the fewest gains among those in the positive column, with 1,100.
The sectors with losses were led by Manufacturing’s dropping 3,300.
Construction Employment
Statewide construction employment totals 223,900 jobs. In July 2024, the sector reported 222,800.
The Arizona Construction sector features three major segments: Buildings, Heavy, and Specialty Trades. There are currently 53,800 jobs in Buildings, which is up 900 from June and up 4,700 from July 2024. Heavy Construction lost 200 for the month at 25,800 and was down 100 for the year. Specialty Trades dipped 1,100 over the month for a total of 144,300, and the segment lost 3,500 year-over-year.
Construction jobs in the Phoenix Metro Area (Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale) lost 200 over the month for a total of 179,100. The July 2024 number was 178,500. Metro Tucson gained 100 in the month to hit 20,300, which is a loss of 600 year-over-year.
Yuma, Flagstaff, Prescott-Prescott Valley, Lake Havasu City-Kingman and Sierra Vista-Douglas combine Mining and Construction jobs in reporting their job sector totals. All five were unchanged from June to July. Yuma reported 4,100, while Flagstaff had 3,100. Prescott-Prescott Valley had 7,200; Lake Havasu City-Kingman, 4,600, and Sierra Vista-Douglas reported 2,100.