By Roland Murphy for AZBEX
The Arizona Construction sector lost 600 jobs in January, according to the latest report published by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
Arizona’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 3.9%. The December rate was 3.8%.
The national unemployment rate fell to 4.0%, down from 4.1%. In January 2024, Arizona had a seasonally adjusted rate of 3.5%. The national rate was 3.7%.
Arizona had a not-seasonally adjusted loss of 40,700 nonfarm employment jobs month-over-month. “Prior to the pandemic (2010-2019), private sector employment averaged a loss of 41,900 jobs in January,” the report states.
Year-over-year results showed a seasonally adjusted increase in the labor force of 43,683 people, or 1.2%
The private sector lost 34,900 jobs in January, led by losses in Trade, Transportation & Utilities, which dropped 18,900 jobs, and Health Care and Social Assistance, which fell by 4,400.
Of the 12 sectors tracked, only two reported gains over the month. Private Educational Services added 500, while Natural Resources & Mining added 100.
Government lost 5,800 jobs.
Year-over-year, five of the 12 sectors reported gains, led by Health Care and Social Assistance’s addition of 17,500. The sectors with losses were led by Professional & Business Services’ shedding of 11,300 jobs. Next came Trade, Transportation & Utilities, down 4,600, and Construction, which lost 4,500.
Construction Employment
Statewide construction employment totals 220,300 jobs. In January 2024, the sector reported 224,800.
The Arizona Construction sector features three major segments: Buildings, Heavy, and Specialty Trades. There are currently 51,700 jobs in Buildings, which is down 100 from December and up 4,200 from January 2024. Heavy Construction lost 200 for the month at 26,000 and was unchanged over the year. Specialty Trades dropped by 300 over the month for a total of 142,600, and the segment lost 8,700 year-over-year.
Construction jobs in the Phoenix Metro Area (Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale) were unchanged over the month for a total of 178,100. The January 2024 number was 179,800. Metro Tucson fell 100 over the month to hit 20,300, which is a loss of 900 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, finishing at 3,900. Flagstaff lost 100 to finish the month at 3,000. Prescott and Lake Havasu City-Kingman also both lost 100, ending at 6,900 and 4,400, respectively. Sierra Vista-Douglas was unchanged, reporting 2,100.