By Roland Murphy for AZBEX
Arizona’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 3.5% in August, up from 3.3% in July, according to the latest report published by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
The national rate also increased to 3.7%, up from 3.5%. In Aug. 2021, the state had a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.5%, and the national was 5.2%.
The state had a net gain of 46,300 non-farm jobs over the month. “Prior to the pandemic, nonfarm employment averaged a gain of 54,000 jobs in August (2010-2019),” the report states. Government gained 38,200, more than the pre-pandemic average of 35,600.
Year-over-year, Construction shows a gain of 8,900, and the sector gained 3,700 jobs in August. Natural Resources & Mining also gained, increasing by 300 for the month.
Ten of the 11 sectors tracked posted year-over-year gains. Trade, Transportation & Utilities led with 22,600, followed by Education & Health Services with 20,100. The only losing sector year-over-year was Financial Activities, which declined by 1,400 jobs.
Construction Employment
Statewide construction employment totals 187,700 jobs, which increased by 3,700 from July and was up 8,900 from Aug. 2021.
The Arizona Construction sector features three major segments: Buildings, Heavy, and Specialty Trades. There are currently 38,200 jobs in Buildings, which is up 900 from July 2022 and up by 1,000 from Aug. 2021. Heavy Construction increased 400 for the month with a total of 21,100 and 1,200 added over the year. Specialty Trades added 2,400 over the month for a total of 128,400. The segment gained 6,700 over the year.
Construction jobs in the Phoenix Metro Area (Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale) gained 3,600 over the month, for a total of 147,900. The Aug. 2021 number was 140,000. Metro Tucson construction added 300 jobs for the month, totaling 18,400. The Aug. 2021 number was 18,200.
Yuma, Flagstaff, Prescott, Lake Havasu City-Kingman and Sierra Vista-Douglas combine Construction and Natural Resources jobs in reporting their job sector totals. Yuma dropped 100, totaling 3,700. Flagstaff was unchanged at 3,400, as were Prescott at 7,100, Lake Havasu City-Kingman at 4,500 and Sierra Vista-Douglas at 2,100.