By Roland Murphy for AZBEX
Arizona’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased from 4.2% to 4.1% from January to February, according to the latest report published by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
The national unemployment rate increased over the month, rising from 3.7% to 3.9%. Last February, Arizona had a seasonally adjusted rate of 3.7%, while the national rate was 3.6%.
The Construction sector lost 600 jobs around the state from January through February.
Arizona had a not seasonally adjusted gain of 16,300 in nonfarm employment in February. “Prior to the pandemic (2010-2019), NSA nonfarm employment gained 25,100 jobs on average in February,” the report states.
The private sector gained 9,200 jobs over the month, led by Professional & Business Services adding 3,800 and Leisure & Hospitality adding 3,300. Government gained 7,100 in February.
Seven of the 11 sectors tracked reported decreases over the month; four gained. Year-over-year, six of the 11 sectors reported gains, including Construction’s addition of 8,500 jobs. Four sectors lost jobs, and Professional & Business Services was unchanged.
Construction Employment
Statewide construction employment totals 213,800 jobs. In February 2023, the sector reported 205,300.
The Arizona Construction sector features three major segments: Buildings, Heavy, and Specialty Trades. There are currently 45,700 jobs in Buildings, which is down 100 from January and up 2,300 from February 2023. Heavy Construction was unchanged the month with 25,400 but added 1,800 over the year. Specialty Trades lost 500 over the month for a total of 142,700, and the segment gained 4,400 year-over-year.
Construction jobs in the Phoenix Metro Area (Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale) were unchanged over the month for a total of 170,500. The February 2023 number was 163,200. Metro Tucson dropped 100 construction jobs over the month at 20,800, which is an increase of 900 year-over-year.
Yuma, Flagstaff, Prescott, Lake Havasu City-Kingman and Sierra Vista-Douglas combine Mining and Construction jobs in reporting their job sector totals. Yuma, Flagstaff and Prescott each added 100, reaching 3,800, 3,100 and 7,200, respectively. Lake Havasu City-Kingman was unchanged at 4,700, as was Sierra Vista-Douglas with 2,100.