Arizona’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained unchanged at 7.3% in March. The U.S. seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was also flat in March at 6.7%. A year ago the Arizona seasonally adjusted rate was 8.0%, and the U.S. rate was 7.5%.
Over the month, Arizona added 15,600 Nonfarm jobs (0.6%) in March. This was higher than the ten-year (’04-’13) average job gain of 12,500 jobs. All gains came from the Private Sector which added 17,100 jobs (0.8%), higher than the ten-year (’04-’13) average job gain of 13,100 jobs. Losses in Government are typical in March. Government shed 1,500 jobs (-0.4%), larger than the ten-year (’04-’13) average job loss of 600 jobs. Nine of the eleven major sectors added jobs and two reported job losses (see Figure 3). Professional & Business Services reported the largest job gain (7,300 jobs) while Government recorded the largest job loss (-1,500 jobs). Professional and Business Services gained 7,300 jobs (2.0%), more than double the historic 10 year average of 2,500 jobs. Leisure and Hospitality added 5,400 jobs (1.9%), approximating the ten-year (’04-’13) average gain of 5,200 jobs. Education and Health Services added 1,400 jobs (0.4%), slightly lower than the ten-year (’04-’13) average gain of 1,700 jobs. Trade, Transportation and Utilities gained 1,400 jobs (0.3%). This gain was closer to the ten-year (’04-’13) average gain of 1,100 jobs. Manufacturing added 700 jobs, all from Durable Goods (700 jobs) and Nondurable Goods was flat. Construction gained 600 jobs (0.5%), the smallest over the month gain in March since the recession (’08-’09). Other Services (600 jobs), Information (300 jobs), and Natural Resources and Mining (100 jobs) all added jobs. Government reported the largest job loss of 1,500 jobs (-0.4%), larger than the ten-year (’04-’13) average loss of 600 jobs. Financial Activities shed 700 jobs.
Over the year in March, Arizona’s Nonfarm employment increased by 47,400 jobs (1.9%). All of the gains were from the Private Sector which added 49,400 jobs. Government shed 2,000 jobs. Eight of the eleven major sectors reported job gains and three sectors reported job losses. Education and Health Services reported the largest job gain of 11,900 jobs. The majority of these were reported in Health Care and Social Assistance which added 7,500 jobs. Trade, Transportation and Utilities added 11,600 jobs followed by Financial Activities (8,900 jobs), Professional and Business Services (8,100 jobs), Leisure and Hospitality (6,800 jobs), Construction (2,900 jobs), Information (300 jobs), and Natural Resources and Mining (200 jobs). Other Services (-600 jobs), Manufacturing (-700 jobs), and Government (-2,000 jobs) all shed jobs.