By Roland Murphy for AZBEX
Reversing the recent general trend of losses, the Arizona Construction sector gained 1,200 jobs in December, according to the latest report published by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 4.3%.
The national unemployment rate dropped to 4.4%, down from 4.5 in November. In December 2024, Arizona had a seasonally adjusted rate of 3.8%. The national rate was 4.1%.
Arizona had a not-seasonally adjusted increase of 6,500 nonfarm employment jobs month-over-month. “Prior to the pandemic (2010-2019), NSA nonfarm employment gained 5,600 jobs on average in December,” the report states.
Year-over-year results showed a seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment increase of 24,600 people, or 0.7%.
The private sector gained 13,500 jobs, led by Trade, Transportation & Utilities, up 5,900 jobs, and Health Care and Social Assistance, which gained 2,900.
Government led declining sectors with a loss of 7,000 jobs, most of which occurred in State Government, which fell by 6,000. Manufacturing was second in declining sectors, reporting a loss of 1,400 jobs.
Year-over-year, eight of the 12 sectors reported gains, led by an addition of 15,000 in Health Care and Social Assistance. Construction was third with 5,900.
The sectors with year-over-year losses were led by Government’s decline of 9,700.
Construction Employment
Statewide construction employment totals 226,800 jobs, up from a revised total of 225,600 for November. The original November report showed 226,400 jobs. In December 2024, the sector reported 220,900.
The Arizona Construction sector features three major segments: Buildings, Heavy, and Specialty Trades. There are currently 57,000 jobs in Buildings, which is up 900 from November and up 5,200 from December 2024. Heavy Construction was unchanged for the month at 24,900 and was down 1,300 for the year. Specialty Trades gained 300 over the month for a total of 144,900, and the segment gained 2,000 year-over-year.
Construction jobs in the Phoenix Metro Area (Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale) increased by 1,100 over the month for a total of 181,700. The December 2024 number was 178,100. Metro Tucson lost 100 in December to hit 19,700, which is a loss of 700 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 4,100. Flagstaff lost 100 jobs, reaching 3,100. Prescott-Prescott Valley was unchanged at 7,300, as was Lake Havasu City-Kingman at 4,700.