Arizona’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 3.3% in March, down from 3.6% in February, according to the latest report published by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
The national rate decreased to 3.6% from 3.8%. In March 2021, the state had a seasonally adjusted rate of 5.8%, and the national was 6.0%.
The state had a net loss of 5,700 non-farm jobs over the month. “Historically (2012-2021), nonfarm employment has recorded a gain of 7,500 jobs in March.,” the report states. The private sector lost 4,500 in February, led by losses in Professional and Business Services, which dropped 2,700. Leisure & Hospitality was second among declining sectors with 2,000. Education & Health Services gained 1,700, and Manufacturing gained 700.
Construction gained 300 jobs for the month. Year-over-year, the sector showed a gain of 5,300.
All 11 sectors tracked posted year-over-year gains. Leisure & Hospitality led with 34,100 jobs from March 2021 to March 2022. Trade, Transportation & Utilities was second with 33,100. The two other top gaining fields were and Education & Health Services with 12,300 and Professional and Business Services with 7,900.
Construction Employment
Statewide construction employment totals 181,500 jobs, which increased by 300 from February 2022 and 5,300 from March 2021.
The Arizona Construction sector features three major segments: Buildings, Heavy, and Specialty Trades. There are currently 36,400 jobs in Buildings, which is down 700 from February 2022 and up by 200 from March 2021. Heavy Construction added 400 over the month for a total of 20,600 and added 1,100 over the year. Specialty Trades added 600 over the month for a total of 124,500. The segment gained 4,000 over the year.
Construction jobs in the Phoenix Metro Area (Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale) added 1,200 over the month for a total of 142,100. The March 2021 number was 138,100. Metro Tucson construction jobs were up 100 for the month, totaling 18,000. The March 2021 number was 17,800.
Yuma, Flagstaff, Prescott, Lake Havasu City-Kingman and Sierra Vista-Douglas combine Construction and Natural Resources jobs in reporting their job sector totals. Yuma and Flagstaff were unchanged at 3,500 and 2,800, respectively. Prescott was down 100 to 6,800. Lake Havasu City-Kingman also decreased by 100 to 4,200. Sierra Vista-Douglas was unchanged at 2,000.
