Ariz. Construction Gained 1,300 Jobs in August

By Tasha Anderson for AZBEX 

Arizona’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 5.9 percent in August 2020, from July 2020, according to the latest report published by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.  

The national rate decreased to 8.4 percent from 10.2 percent in July. In August 2019, the state had a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.6 percent, and the national was at 3.7 percent. 

The state had a net gain of 79,200 non-farm jobs over the month. “Historically (2010-2019), Nonfarm employment has averaged a gain of 53,900 jobs in August,” the report states. Government had the largest net gain with 48,800 jobs, followed by Education & Health Services with a gain of 11,400. Construction gained 1,300 jobs over the month.  

Trade, Transportation & Utilities took the top spot in job gains from August 2019 to August 2020 with a total of 11,600, while Leisure & Hospitality took the top spot in job losses over the year with 63,500. 

The Construction sector features three major segments: Buildings, Heavy, and Specialty Trades. There are currently 35,300 jobs in Buildings, which increased by 900 from July 2020 and decreased by 400 from August 2019. Heavy Construction lost 400 over the month for a total of 20,100 and is also down 400 from August 2019. Specialty Trades gained 800 for the month at 113,900, and the segment lost 3,000 over the year. 

Construction jobs in the Phoenix Metro Area (Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale) increased 200 over the month for a total of 132,200. The August 2019 number was 136,300.  

The Metro Tucson construction jobs gained 100 from July for a total of 18,300 and gained 400 from August 2019. 

Yuma, Flagstaff, Prescott, Lake Havasu City-Kingman and Sierra Vista-Douglas combine Construction and Natural Resources jobs in reporting their job sector totals. Yuma and Sierra Vista-Douglas remained the same over the month with 2,300 and 2,000 job respectively. Flagstaff and Lake Havasu City-Kingman gained 100 for the month with 2,300 and 3,600 jobs respectively. Prescott gained 200 over the month for a total of 6,700.