By Roland Murphy for AZBEX
Employment in the Arizona Construction sector fell by 800 jobs in the month of April, contributing to a drop of 3,100 year-over-year, according to the latest report published by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 4.7%, unchanged from March.
The national unemployment rate also maintained its March rate, holding steady at 4.3%. In April 2025, Arizona had a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.2%. The national rate was also 4.2%.
Month over month, Arizona not-seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment increased by 16,300 jobs, or 0.5%. Year over year, NSA total nonfarm employment increased by 16,300 jobs, or 0.2%.
“Prior to the pandemic (2010-2019), NSA nonfarm employment gained 9,500 jobs on average in April,” the report states.
The private sector gained 13,100 jobs, with only two of the 12 sectors tracked showing losses. Professional and Business Services led by adding 5,400, followed by Health Care and Social Assistance with 4,600. The declining sectors were Construction’s loss of 800 jobs and the closely related Manufacturing sector’s loss of 1,500.
Government employment rose by 3,200 jobs.
Year-over-year, half of the 12 sectors reported gains, led by Health Care & Social Assistance’s adding 16,800.
The sectors with year-over-year losses were led by Government’s decrease of 7,300 jobs. Construction’s loss of 3,100 was the fourth largest in the group of declining sectors.
Construction Employment
Statewide construction employment totals 222,800 jobs, down from a total of 223,600 for March. In April 2025, the sector reported 225,900.
The Arizona Construction sector features three major segments: Construction of Buildings, Heavy and Civil Engineering, and Specialty Trades Contractors. There are currently 51,500 jobs in Buildings, which is up 400 from March and up 2,400 from April 2025. Heavy and Civil Engineering was down 300 for the month at 26,700 and was down 500 for the year. Specialty Trades lost 900 over the month for a total of 144,600, and the segment shed 5,000 year-over-year.
Construction jobs in the Phoenix Metro Area (Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale) fell by 800 over the month for a total of 178,300. The April 2025 number was 180,800. Metro Tucson fell 300 in April, ending at 20,000, which is a loss of 1,000 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. Yuma was unchanged at 4,000. Flagstaff also stayed the same at 3,100. Prescott-Prescott Valley added 100 jobs to finish at 7,300. Lake Havasu City-Kingman was unchanged at 4,700, as was Sierra Vista-Douglas with 2,100.
