January construction growth ratio comparable for Tucson and Phoenix
The state says Arizona’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 6.6% in January, for the fifth consecutive month.
The Office of Employment and Population Statistics announced January’s job figures Thursday. The rate compares with December’s, after a downward revision was made from 6.7% to 6.6% (+300 jobs).
A year ago, the Arizona's seasonally adjusted rate was 7.1% and the U.S. rate was 6.6%. Arizona’s unemployment still tops the U.S. rate which was reported at 5.7% in January.
Arizona shed 43,300 nonfarm jobs (-1.6%) over the month in January, the fewest losses since January 2006. The agency adds that job losses in January are typical in Arizona as firms reduce staff levels following the holiday months. The ten-year average (’05-’14) Nonfarm employment loss in January is -58,000 jobs: the private sector accounted for most of the losses with -30,800 jobs, and government lost the remaining -12,500 jobs.
Eight of the eleven major sectors lost jobs, one was flat, and two gained jobs over the month.
Over the month, Trade, Transportation and Utilities had the largest job loss (-18,100 jobs), followed by Government (-12,500 jobs) and Professional and Business Services (-7,200 jobs) sectors. Losses in January were also reported in the sectors of: Education and Health Services (-2,400 jobs), Financial Activities (-2,300 jobs), Manufacturing (-1,400 jobs) Information (-900 jobs) and Natural Resources and Mining (-200 jobs). Leisure and Hospitality was flat over the month while Other Services (+1,600 jobs), somewhat unusual for January and Construction (+100 jobs) were added, the first gain on record since January 2005, with an historic 10-year average (-5,500), could be an indication of a turn-around for the state.
Over the year, Arizona added 64,000 nonfarm jobs (+2.5%) in January, compared to the US change (+2.3%). The Private Sector added jobs (68,000 jobs; +3.2%) while Government (-4,000 jobs; -1.0%) lost jobs over the year. Seven of the eleven major sectors reported gains and four reported losses. The primary gains in the Private Sector came from Education and Health Services (16,700 jobs), Professional and Business Services (16,000 Jobs), and Leisure and Hospitality (13,600 Jobs) sectors. Within Leisure and Hospitality, the Arts, Entertainment and Recreation sector experienced the largest over the year change (+3,300 jobs) on record (’90-’15). Other sectors with job gains included Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+10,300 jobs), Other Services (+6,700 jobs), Financial Activities (+3,300 jobs), and Construction (+2,400 jobs). Manufacturing (-800 jobs), Information (-100 jobs), and Natural Resource and Mining (-100 jobs) sectors lost jobs over the year in January.
Over the month, Tucson lost 4,700 nonfarm jobs from December to January (-1.3%): 3,100 in the private sector and 1,600 government positions. Over the year, Tucson has gained 4,500 jobs (+1.2%): 5,600 in the private sector and -1,100 government jobs. Construction jobs for Tucson were up by 100 month-over-month (+0.7%) and up 400 jobs (2.7%) over the year from January 2014.
Over the month, Phoenix lost 31,300 nonfarm jobs from December to January (-1.6%): 22,300 in the private sector and 9,000 government positions. Over the year, Phoenix has gained 53,600 jobs (+2.9%): 55,800 in the private sector and a loss of -2,200 government jobs. Construction jobs for Phoenix were up by 700 jobs month-over-month (+0.7%) and up 3,600 jobs (+3.8%) over the year from January 2014.
It is interesting to note the same ratio for month over month construction when Tucson and Phoenix are compared for January.
Sierra Vista-Douglas metro area of Cochise County is in the report, its premier unemployment rate is 8.4%, up from 7.8% in December and down from 9.1% last year.
Arizona Market Unemployment Rates
- Arizona 6.6%
- Flagstaff 7.5%
- Lake Havasu City-Kingman 9.0%
- Phoenix 5.8%
- Prescott 6.3%
- Sierra Vista-Douglas 8.4%
- Tucson 6.0%
- Yuma 19.9%
To read the full report click here: employment-report-january2015.pdf