By Roland Murphy for AZBEX
The Arizona Construction sector dropped 1,100 jobs in November, the most of any sector for the month.
Arizona’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 3.7%, according to the latest report published by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity. The October rate was 3.6%.
The national unemployment rate rose to 4.2%, up from 4.1%. Last November, Arizona had a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.2%. The national rate was 3.7%.
Arizona had a not-seasonally adjusted gain of 31,600 in nonfarm employment jobs month-over-month. “Prior to the pandemic (2010-2019), NSA nonfarm employment gained 28,800 jobs on average in November,” the report states.
The private sector gained 28,300 jobs over the month, led by Trade, Transportation & Utilities with 18,200 new jobs and Health Care and Social Assistance with 4,500. Government gained 3,300.
Of the 12 sectors tracked, seven reported gains over the month. Along with Construction’s loss of 1,100, losses were also reported in Financial Activities, Private Educational Services and Other Services. Natural Resources and Mining were unchanged.
Year-over-year, nine of the 12 sectors reported gains, led by Health Care and Social Assistance’s addition of 26,200. Construction led year-over-year losing sectors with its drop of 900 jobs.
Construction Employment
Statewide construction employment totals 218,000 jobs. In November 2023, the sector reported 218,900.
The Arizona Construction sector features three major segments: Buildings, Heavy, and Specialty Trades. There are currently 49,600 jobs in Buildings, which is down 100 from October and up 3,500 from November 2023. Heavy Construction added 300 for the month for 26,000 and added 400 over the year. Specialty Trades dropped by 1,300 over the month for a total of 142,400, and the segment has lost 4,800 year-over-year.
Construction jobs in the Phoenix Metro Area (Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale) were unchanged over the month for a total of 172,200. The November 2023 number was 175,900. Metro Tucson fell 100 over the month to hit 20,800, which is a loss of 100 year-over-year.
Yuma, Flagstaff, Prescott, Lake Havasu City-Kingman and Sierra Vista-Douglas combine Mining and Construction jobs in reporting their job sector totals. Yuma was unchanged with 3,800. Flagstaff shed 100, dropping to 3,000. Prescott also dropped 100, ending at 7,100. Lake Havasu City-Kingman and Sierra Vista-Douglas were both unchanged, reporting 4,700 and 2,200, respectively.