Cochise County: April job numbers and earnings up, unemployment rate down

Bisbee, AZ, Cochise County

BENSON, Arizona (May 29, 2024) —The number of nonfarm jobs in Cochise County was up by 200 in the 12 months ended April 2024 for job growth of 0.6 percent, according to data from Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity. That was led by the gain of 200 jobs (1.9 percent) in the government sector, all of which were at the state and local levels (200 jobs, 3.2 percent). Countywide federal job numbers in April were unchanged from a year ago.

Cochise County’s private sector job numbers stabilized overall in the 12 months ended April. Within the private sector, goods-producing jobs were up by 200 (6.9 percent) with the gain of 100 construction and mining jobs (4.8 percent) and 100 manufacturing jobs (12.5 percent).

Private-sector, service-providing jobs countywide were down by 200 (-0.9 percent) from April 2023 to April 2024, with the gain of 200 trade, transportation, and utilities jobs (3.1 percent) more than offset by the loss of 200 information jobs (-40.0 percent) and 200 professional and business services jobs (-5.1 percent). Job numbers were unchanged in financial activities, educational and health services, leisure and hospitality, and other services in the 12 months ended April.

In month-to-month comparisons, Cochise County gained 200 jobs from March to April 2024. The private sector and government each added 100 jobs. Within government, all the gains were at the state and local levels with the number of federal jobs unchanged from the month prior.

Within the private sector, construction and mining added 100 jobs from March to April. All other private-sector industries (manufacturing, trade, transportation, and utilities; information; financial activities; professional and business services; educational and health services; leisure and hospitality; and other services) saw job numbers unchanged.

Average weekly earnings in Cochise County in April 2024 were $952.13 (up 14.6 percent from April 2023). Average weekly hours worked were 32.9 (down slightly from 33.1 in April a year ago). Countywide average hourly earnings in April were $28.94 (up 15.3 percent from April 2023).

Cochise County’s unadjusted unemployment rate in April 2024 was 3.0 percent, down from 3.3 percent in March this year and 4.2 percent in April a year ago.

Arizona’s unadjusted unemployment rate in April was 2.6 percent at the state level, down from 2.9 percent in March and 3.4 percent in April a year prior.

The U.S. unadjusted unemployment rate in April was 3.5 percent, down from 3.8 percent in March 2024 but up from 3.1 percent in April 2023.

Cochise County city and town unemployment rates in April 2024 were:

  • Benson, 3.5 percent, down from 3.9 percent in March 2024 and 4.8 percent in April 2023.
  • Bisbee, 1.9 percent, down from 2.1 percent in March this year and 2.6 percent in April last year.
  • Douglas, 5.5 percent, down from 6.1 percent in March and 7.5 percent in April a year ago.
  • Huachuca City, 5.0 percent, down from 5.6 percent in March this year and 6.9 percent in April 2023.
  • Sierra Vista, 2.7 percent, down from 2.9 percent in March and 3.5 percent in April a year prior.
  • Tombstone, 1.3 percent, unchanged from March this year but down from 1.8 percent in April last year.
  • Willcox, 8.0 percent, down from 8.7 percent in March 2024 and 10.8 percent in April 2023.

Labor market data are released monthly with revisions to the previous month’s data. Data are also revised annually. Job numbers are rounded to the nearest 100.

For more information on the Cochise County economy, including current and historical data, visit CochiseEconomy.com, a project of Southeast Arizona Economic Development Group in partnership with Arizona G&T Cooperatives and community sponsors.