By Tasha Anderson for AZBEX
Arizona’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 6.9 percent in February 2021, from January 2021, according to the latest report published by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
The national rate decreased to 6.2 percent from January. In February 2020, the state had a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.9 percent, and the national was at 3.5 percent.
The state had a net gain of 17,100 non-farm jobs over the month. “Historically (2011-2020), Nonfarm employment has averaged a gain of 25,400 jobs in February,” the report states. Trade, Transportation & Utilities had the largest net gain of 4,500 jobs, followed by Government with a gain of 3,600. Construction was the only sector that reported a loss, with a net loss of 1,000 jobs for the month.
Trade, Transportation & Utilities took the top spot in job gains from February 2020 to February 2021 with a total of 16,400, while Leisure & Hospitality took the top spot in job losses over the year with 61,200. Construction reported a 4,900-job loss over the year.
The Construction sector features three major segments: Buildings, Heavy, and Specialty Trades. There are currently 34,200 jobs in Buildings, which increased by 400 from January 2021 and decreased by 1,600 from February 2020. Heavy Construction remained the same over the month for a total of 20,200 and lost 100 over the year. Specialty Trades lost 1,400 for the month at 115,900, and the segment lost 3,200 over the year.
Construction jobs in the Phoenix Metro Area (Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale) lost 1,800 over the month for a total of 130,200. The February 2020 number was 137,200.
The Metro Tucson construction jobs decreased to 18,000 from January 2021. The February 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 lost 300 over the month for a total of 3,200. Prescott gained 200 over the month for a total of 6,700. Flagstaff, Lake Havasu City-Kingman and Sierra Vista-Douglas each remained the same for a total of 2,600, 3,900, and 3,500 respectively for the month.