By Roland Murphy for AZBEX
The Arizona Construction sector gained 600 jobs in June, 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 dropped to 4.1%, down from 4.2% in May. In June 2024, Arizona had a seasonally adjusted rate of 3.5%. The national rate was 4.1%.
Arizona had a not-seasonally adjusted loss of 59,100 nonfarm employment jobs month-over-month. “Prior to the pandemic (2010-2019), NSA nonfarm employment lost 51,600 jobs on average in June,” the report states.
Year-over-year results showed a seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment increase of 14,400 people, or 0.5%.
The private sector lost 22,000 jobs, led by Professional & Business Services, which fell 8,500, and Leisure & Hospitality, which lost 7,400. Government led losses overall, dropping 37,100 jobs.
The 12 sectors tracked showed only three with gains: Trade, Transportation & Utilities, which gained 1,600; Manufacturing, up by 1,600, and Construction’s gain of 600.
Year-over-year, seven of the 12 sectors reported gains, led by Health Care and Social Assistance’s addition of 20,400. The sectors with losses were led by Manufacturing’s dropping of 4,300. Construction had the fewest lost jobs among those finishing down YoY, with a decrease of 1,300.
Construction Employment
Statewide construction employment totals 225,000 jobs. In June 2024, the sector reported 224,400.
The Arizona Construction sector features three major segments: Buildings, Heavy, and Specialty Trades. There are currently 53,600 jobs in Buildings, which is up 900 from May and up 4,300 from June 2024. Heavy Construction lost 100 for the month at 26,000 and was flat the year. Specialty Trades dipped 200 over the month for a total of 145,400, and the segment lost 5,600 year-over-year.
Construction jobs in the Phoenix Metro Area (Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale) gained 200 over the month for a total of 179,700. The June 2024 number was 181,900. Metro Tucson dropped 200 over the month to hit 20,300, which is a loss of 400 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 gained 100 to reach 4,100. Flagstaff also added 100, coming in at 3,200, as did Prescott-Prescott Valley at 7,300. Lake Havasu City-Kingman was unchanged at 4,600. Sierra Vista-Douglas added 100 over the month with 2,200.