By Roland Murphy for AZBEX
Arizona’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 3.9% in October, up from 3.7% in September, according to the latest report published by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
The national rate rose to 3.7%, up from 3.5%. In Oct. 2021, the state had a seasonally adjusted rate of 3.9%, and the national was 4.6%.
The state had a net gain of 31,000 non-farm jobs over the month. “Prior to the pandemic, nonfarm employment averaged a gain of 27,800 jobs in October (2010-2019),” the report states. Government gained 800, far fewer than the pre-pandemic average of 3,300. Overall, the private sector increased by 30,200 jobs in October, with Leisure & Hospitality (7,200) and Trade, Transportation & Utilities (7,100) leading in gains.
Year-over-year, Construction shows a gain of 9,400, and the sector gained 600 jobs in October. Natural Resources & Mining also gained, increasing by 200 for the month.
Ten of the 11 sectors tracked posted year-over-year gains. Education and Health Services led with 29,600, followed by Leisure & Hospitality with 16,900. The only losing sector year-over-year was Financial Activities, which declined by 400 jobs.
Construction Employment
Statewide construction employment totals 187,800 jobs, which increased by 600 from September and was up 9,400 from Oct. 2021.
The Arizona Construction sector features three major segments: Buildings, Heavy, and Specialty Trades. There are currently 38,700 jobs in Buildings, which is up 600 from September and up by 1,500 from Oct. 2021. Heavy Construction increased 100 for the month with a total of 21,000 and 900 added over the year. Specialty Trades dropped 100 over the month for a total of 128,100. The segment gained 7,000 over the year.
Construction jobs in the Phoenix Metro Area (Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale) added 600 over the month, for a total of 148,000. The Oct. 2021 number was 139,400. Metro Tucson construction added 100, reaching 18,500. The Oct. 2021 total 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 added 100, totaling 3,800, as did Prescott, which totaled 7,100. Flagstaff was down 100 at 3,000. Lake Havasu City-Kingman was unchanged with 4,500, as was Sierra Vista-Douglas at 2,100.