By Roland Murphy for AZBEX
Resuming a pattern of losses that was briefly interrupted in August, the Arizona Construction sector lost 1,800 jobs in September, according to the latest report published by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 4.2%.
The national unemployment rate rose to 4.4%, up from 4.3% in August. In September 2024, Arizona had a seasonally adjusted rate of 3.8%. The national rate was 4.1%.
Arizona had a not-seasonally adjusted increase of 24,200 nonfarm employment jobs month-over-month. “Prior to the pandemic (2010-2019), private sector employment averaged a gain of 28,800 jobs in September,” the report states.
Year-over-year results showed a seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment increase of 59,769 people, or 1.6%.
The private sector gained 3,300 jobs, led by Private Educational Services, up 5,900 jobs, and Professional & Business Services, which gained 3,200. Government led gaining sectors, adding 20,900, mostly in State Government. Government’s gain is still significantly smaller than the pre-pandemic average of 23,300.
Of the 12 sectors tracked, five reported increases. Health Care and Social Assistance led declining sectors, dropping 2,300, and was followed by Construction’s loss of 1,800.
Year-over-year, eight of the 12 sectors reported gains, led by an addition of 20,500 in Health Care and Social Assistance. Construction was sixth with 2,200.
The sectors with losses were led by Government’s dropping 3,800.
Construction Employment
Statewide construction employment totals 225,600 jobs. In September 2024, the sector reported 223,400.
The Arizona Construction sector features three major segments: Buildings, Heavy, and Specialty Trades. There are currently 55,000 jobs in Buildings, which is down 1,200 from August and up 6,100 from September 2024. Heavy Construction lost 200 for the month at 26,000 and was up 200 for the year. Specialty Trades shed 2,800 over the month for a total of 144,600, and the segment lost 4,100 year-over-year.
Construction jobs in the Phoenix Metro Area (Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale) fell by 1,400 over the month for a total of 181,400. The September 2024 number was 179,500. Metro Tucson lost 100 in the month to hit 20,400, which is a loss of 300 years 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. Yuma was unchanged at 4,100. Flagstaff, Prescott-Prescott Valley, Lake Havasu City-Kingman and Sierra Vista-Douglas all added 100, settling at 3,200, 7,300, 4,700 and 2,200, respectively.