Ariz. Construction Lost 1,200 Jobs in July

By Tasha Anderson for AZBEX 
Arizona’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 10.6 percent in July 2020, from June 2020, according to the latest report published by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.  
The national rate decreased to 10.2 percent from 11.1 percent in June. In July 2019, the state had a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.7 percent, and the national was at 3.7 percent. 
The state had a net loss of 19,500 non-farm jobs over the month. “Historically (2010-2019), Nonfarm employment has averaged a loss of 19,200 jobs in July,” the report states. Leisure & Hospitality had the largest net loss with 16,200 jobs, followed by Government with a loss of 1,500. Construction lost 1,200 jobs over the month. Trade, Transportation & Utilities had the largest net gains with 700 jobs. 
Trade, Transportation & Utilities took the top spot in job gains from July 2019 to July 2020 with a total of 6,500, while Leisure & Hospitality took the top spot in job losses over the year with 60,600. 
The Construction sector features three major segments: Buildings, Heavy, and Specialty Trades. There are currently 34,500 jobs in Buildings, which increased by 200 from June 2020 and decreased by 1,200 from July 2019. Heavy Construction lost 400 over the month for a total of 20,600 and is up 300 from July 2019. Specialty Trades lost 1,000 for the month at 113,300, and the segment lost 3,700 over the year. 
Construction jobs in the Phoenix Metro Area (Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale) decreased 1,200 over the month for a total of 132,200. The July 2019 number was 136,200.  
The Metro Tucson construction jobs lost 400 from June for a total of 18,100 and remained the same from July 2019. 
Yuma, Flagstaff, Prescott, Lake Havasu City-Kingman and Sierra Vista-Douglas combine Construction and Natural Resources jobs in reporting their job sector totals. Flagstaff lost 100 over the month for a total of 2,200. Yuma, Prescott, Lake Havasu City-Kingman and Sierra Vista-Douglas remained at 2,400, 6,500, 3,500 and 1,900 respectively for the month.