By Roland Murphy for AZBEX
Arizona’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 4.0% in December, down from 4.1% in November, according to the latest report published by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
The national rate decreased to 3.5% from 3.6%. In Dec. 2021, the state had a seasonally adjusted rate of 3.9%, and the national was also 3.9%.
The state had a net gain of 400 non-farm jobs over the month. “Prior to the pandemic (2010-2019), NSA nonfarm employment gained 5,600 jobs on average in December” the report states. Government lost 10,800 jobs in December.
The private sector gained 11,200 jobs over the month, led by Trade, Transportation & Utilities with 4,500 and Professional and Business Services with 4,300.
Five of the 11 sectors tracked lost jobs in December.
Construction Employment
Statewide construction employment totals 186,000 jobs, which decreased by 2,600 from November. In Dec. 2021 the sector reported 180,000.
The Arizona Construction sector features three major segments: Buildings, Heavy, and Specialty Trades. There are currently 37,300 jobs in Buildings, which is down 1,000 from November and up 800 from Dec. 2021. Heavy Construction fell by 300 over the month for a total of 21,000 and gained 800 over the year. Specialty Trades dropped by 1,300 over the month for a total of 127,700, and the segment gained 4,400 over the year.
Construction jobs in the Phoenix Metro Area (Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale) decreased by 1,600 over the month for a total of 147,500. The Dec. 2021 number was 139,900. Metro Tucson construction jobs came in at 18,200 jobs for the month, down 200 from November, and unchanged year over year.
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 100, for a total of 3,700, and Flagstaff dropped 200 to 2,900. Prescott fell 300 to 6,800. Lake Havasu City-Kingman lost 100, falling to 4,500. Sierra Vista-Douglas was unchanged, ending the month at 2,100.