By Roland Murphy for AZBEX
Arizona’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 4.0% in September, up from 3.8% for the month of August, according to the latest report published by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
The national unemployment rate held steady at 3.8%. In September 2022, Arizona had a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.0%, while the national rate was 3.5%.
The Construction sector reported job losses of 1,300 around the state.
Arizona had a gain of 30,900 jobs in nonfarm employment for the month. “Prior to the pandemic (2010-2019), NSA nonfarm employment gained 28,800 jobs on average in September,” the report states.
The private sector gained 14,600 jobs over the month, led by Private Education & Health Services adding 9,400. Government gained 16,300, mostly in the subcategory of Local Government Education, which added 9,400.
Eight of the 11 sectors tracked gained jobs in September; three experienced losses. Information lost 2,000 and Natural Resources and Mining, which is closely related to Construction, lost 100. Year-over-year, eight of the 11 sectors reported gains, including Construction’s addition of 4,500 jobs.
Construction Employment
Statewide construction employment totals 201,800 jobs, which dropped by 1,300 from the August total. In September 2022 the sector reported 197,300.
The Arizona Construction sector features three major segments: Buildings, Heavy, and Specialty Trades. There are currently 44,900 jobs in Buildings, which is down 1,100 from August and up 2,400 from September 2022. Heavy Construction was unchanged for the month, for a total of 23,300, and added 1,100 over the year. Specialty Trades dropped 200 over the month for a total of 133,600, and the segment gained 1,000 year-over-year.
Construction jobs in the Phoenix Metro Area (Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale) fell 700 over the month for a total of 160,600. The September 2022 number was 155,000. Metro Tucson lost 200 construction jobs over the month at 20,100, which is an increase of 300 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 and Flagstaff were unchanged with totals of 4,200 and 3,000. Prescott lost 100, totaling 7,200. Lake Havasu City-Kingman and Sierra Vista-Douglas both also lost 100, reporting 4,300 and 2,000.