AZ Const. Reports No Job Gains/Losses in Sept.

By Tasha Anderson for AZBEX 
Arizona’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 6.7 percent in September 2020, from August 2020, according to the latest report published by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.  
The national rate decreased to 7.9 percent from 8.4 percent in August. In September 2019, the state had a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.6 percent, and the national was at 3.5 percent. 
The state had a net gain of 30,200 non-farm jobs over the month. “Historically (2010-2019), Nonfarm employment has averaged a gain of 28,700 jobs in August,” the report states. Government had the largest net gain with 10,800 jobs, followed by Leisure & Hospitality with a gain of 7,000. Construction reported no gains or losses for the month.  
Trade, Transportation & Utilities took the top spot in job gains from September 2019 to September 2020 with a total of 14,900, while Leisure & Hospitality took the top spot in job losses over the year with 56,000. Construction reported a 3,300 job loss over the year. 
The Construction sector features three major segments: Buildings, Heavy, and Specialty Trades. There are currently 34,700 jobs in Buildings, which decreased by 700 from August 2020 and decreased by 900 from September 2019. Heavy Construction lost 600 over the month for a total of 29,500 and is also down 1,100 from September 2019. Specialty Trades gained 1,300 for the month at 115,700, and the segment lost 1,300 over the year. 
Construction jobs in the Phoenix Metro Area (Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale) gained 800 over the month for a total of 133,500. The September 2019 number was 136,400.  
The Metro Tucson construction jobs lost 300 from August for a total of 18,000 and remained the same from September 2019. 
Yuma, Flagstaff, Prescott, Lake Havasu City-Kingman and Sierra Vista-Douglas combine Construction and Natural Resources jobs in reporting their job sector totals. Yuma, Flagstaff and Lake Havasu City-Kingman remained the same over the month with a total of 2,400, 2,300 and 3,600 jobs respectively. Prescott lost 100 for a total of 6,600 jobs for the month. Sierra Vista-Douglas gained 100 over the month for a total of 2,100 jobs.