Arizona’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 3.2% in April, down from 3.3% in March, according to the latest report published by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
The national rate remained unchanged at 3.6%. In April 2021, the state had a seasonally adjusted rate of 5.6%, and the national was 6.0%.
The state had a net gain of 13,100 non-farm jobs over the month. “Prior to the pandemic, nonfarm employment averaged a gain of 9,500 jobs in April (2010-2019),” the report states. The private sector gained 9,600 in April, led by gains of 5,500 in Leisure & Hospitality. After an unusually high gain in February, Trade, Transportation & Utilities led losing sectors and fell by 5,100 jobs.
Year-over-year, Construction shows a gain of 4,300, but the sector lost 200 jobs in April. Mining & Natural Resources also lost jobs, falling by 100 for the month.
Ten of the 11 sectors tracked posted year-over-year gains. Trade, Transportation & Utilities led with 33,200, followed by Leisure & Hospitality with 32,200. The only sector showing year-over-year losses in April was Financial Activities, with a drop of 1,500.
Construction Employment
Statewide construction employment totals 180,700 jobs, which decreased by 200 from March 2022 but is up 4,300 from April 2021.
The Arizona Construction sector features three major segments: Buildings, Heavy, and Specialty Trades. There are currently 36,600 jobs in Buildings, which is down 300 from March 2022 and up by 500 from April 2021. Heavy Construction dropped 200 over the month for a total of 20,300 but added 700 over the year. Specialty Trades added 300 over the month for a total of 123,800. The segment gained 3,100 over the year.
Construction jobs in the Phoenix Metro Area (Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale) fell 800 over the month for a total of 141,100. The April 2021 number was 138,000. Metro Tucson construction jobs were down 100 for the month, totaling 18,000. The April 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 added 100 for a total of 3,600 and 2,900, respectively. Prescott was unchanged at 6,800. Lake Havasu City-Kingman added 200 to end at 4,400. Sierra Vista-Douglas was unchanged at 2,000.
