The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Arizona dropped two-tenths of a percentage point from 7.8% in November to 7.6% in December, the lowest unemployment rate since October 2008. The U.S. unemployment rate dropped three-tenth of a percentage point from 7.0% in November to 6.7% in December. A year ago the Arizona rate was 7.9% and the U.S. rate was also 7.9%. Arizona gained 6,900 Nonfarm jobs (0.3%) in December. Over-the-month gains are typical in December, which has recorded only two losses since 1990 (1990 and 2008). The December job gain was slightly above the ten-year (’03-’12) average (6,700 jobs) and above the post-recessionary (’09-’12) average (3,600 jobs) gains. The Private Sector accounted for all employment gains in December, adding 11,100 jobs (0.5%). Government lost 4,200 jobs, with losses occurring within State Education (-2,600 jobs) and Local Education (-2,500 jobs). Seasonal job losses in Government are typical in December as schools break for the holidays.
Over the month, Trade, Transportation and Utilities recorded a job gain of 5,600 jobs, slightly below the ten-year (’03-’12) average gain of 5,700 jobs. Education and Health Services added 2,400 jobs. This was the largest December job gain for this sector since 2006 and more than the ten-year (’03-’12) average gain of 1,500 jobs. Financial Activities added 2,200 jobs, nearly double the ten-year average (’03-’12) gain of 1,200 jobs. Professional and Business Services gained 900 jobs, below the ten-year (’03-’12) average gain of 1,700 jobs. Information (700 jobs), Leisure and Hospitality (300 jobs), and Other Services (100 jobs) also reported gains. Government reported a loss of 4,200 jobs. Over-the-month Government losses in December are typical and were recorded in State Education (-2,600 jobs) and Local Education (-2,500 jobs) in preparation for the winter break. Construction lost 900 jobs from Buildings (-800 jobs) and Heavy (-700 jobs) Construction. Specialty Trades recorded its first December gain since 2005, adding 600 jobs. Manufacturing lost 200 jobs. Natural Resources & Mining remained unchanged over the month.
Over the year in December, 49,600 Nonfarm jobs were added to Arizona payrolls, an increase of 2.0%. The Nonfarm employment growth rate for calendar year 2013 was also 2.0%. Job gains (2.6%) in the Private Sector (54,000 jobs) were offset by the losses (-1.0%) in Government (-4,400 jobs). Eight of the eleven major sectors reported gains with three reporting losses. Trade, Transportation and Utilities reported the largest over-the-year gain of 15,100 jobs (3.1%) since September 2007. Education and Health Services added 12,800 jobs (3.4%) followed by Financial Activities which added 10,400 jobs (5.8%). Other major sectors with job gains include: Professional and Business Services (6,600 jobs), Leisure and Hospitality (6,400 jobs), Construction (4,900 jobs), Information (300 jobs), and Natural Resource and Mining (100 jobs). Government (-4,400 jobs), Manufacturing (-2,500 jobs), and Other Services (-100 jobs) reported job losses.
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