By Roland Murphy for AZBEX
The Arizona Construction sector gained 2,400 jobs in April, according to the latest report published by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
Arizona’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 4.1%.
The national unemployment rate was also unchanged from March, holding at 4.2%. In April 2024, Arizona had a seasonally adjusted rate of 3.4%. The national rate was 3.9%.
Arizona had a not-seasonally adjusted gain of 20,900 nonfarm employment jobs month-over-month. “Prior to the pandemic (2010-2019), NSA nonfarm employment gained 9,500 jobs on average in April,” the report states.
Year-over-year results showed a seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment increase of 14,200 people, or 0.4%.
The private sector gained 20,000 jobs, led by Health Care and Social Assistance, which added 6,400 jobs, and Trade, Transportation & Utilities’ gain of 3,400. Construction’s 2,400 job gain ranked fifth.
The 12 sectors tracked showed 10 with gains and two with losses. Manufacturing lost 900 jobs, and Financial Activities fell by 200.
Government increased by 900 jobs.
Year-over-year, eight of the 12 sectors reported gains, led by Health Care and Social Assistance’s addition of 20,500. Construction showed a gain of 2,600. The sectors with losses were led by Trade, Transportation & Utilities dropping 3,700, Professional & Business Services shedding 3,400 and Manufacturing losing 3,300 jobs.
Construction Employment
Statewide construction employment totals 225,800 jobs. In April 2024, the sector reported 223,200.
The Arizona Construction sector features three major segments: Buildings, Heavy, and Specialty Trades. There are currently 53,900 jobs in Buildings, which is up 800 from March and up 4,900 from April 2024. Heavy Construction gained 300 for the month at 26,300 and 600 over the year. Specialty Trades added 1,300 over the month for a total of 146,500, and the segment lost 2,900 year-over-year.
Construction jobs in the Phoenix Metro Area (Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale) added 2,400 over the month for a total of 181,600. The April 2024 number was 179,600. Metro Tucson added 300 over the month to hit 20,700, 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 was unchanged at 3,900. Flagstaff also remained the same, holding at 3,000. Prescott-Prescott Valley gained 100, finishing with 7,000. Lake Havasu City-Kingman and Sierra Vista-Douglas were unchanged, finishing the month with 4,500 and 2,100, respectively.