BENSON, Arizona (July 3, 2024) —The number of nonfarm jobs in Cochise County was up by 400 in the 12 months ended May 2024 for job growth of 1.1 percent, according to data from the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity. Job gains were split between the private sector (200 jobs, 0.8 percent) and the government sector (200 jobs, 1.9 percent). Within government, federal jobs were up by 100 (2.2 percent), while state and local governments added a combined 100 jobs (1.6 percent).
Within Cochise County’s private sector, goods-producing jobs were up by 100 (3.4 percent), all in manufacturing (12.5 percent). Construction and mining job numbers held steady in the 12 months ended May.
Private-sector, service-providing jobs countywide were up by 100 (0.5 percent) from May 2023 to May 2024, with the gain of 100 trade, transportation, and utilities jobs (1.5 percent), 100 jobs in financial activities (11.1 percent), and 100 leisure and hospitality jobs (2.5 percent). Those gains were partly offset by the loss of 100 information jobs (-25.0 percent) and 100 professional and business services jobs (-2.6 percent). Job numbers in educational and health services and other services remained unchanged in the 12 months ending in May.
In month-to-month comparisons, Cochise County gained 100 jobs from April to May 2024. The private sector added 100 jobs while the government sector stabilized overall. Within government, the gain of 100 federal jobs was offset by the loss of 100 state and local government jobs.
Financial activities added 100 jobs within the private sector from April to May. Job numbers in all other private-sector industries (construction and mining; manufacturing; trade, transportation, and utilities; information; professional and business services; educational and health services; leisure and hospitality; and other services) remained unchanged over the month.
Average weekly earnings in Cochise County in May 2024 were $989.68 (up 22.8 percent from May 2023). Average weekly hours worked were 33.3 (down from 33.6 in May a year ago). Countywide average hourly earnings in May were $29.72 (up 23.9 percent from May 2023).
Cochise County’s unadjusted unemployment rate in May 2024 was 3.7 percent, up from 3.0 percent in April this year but down from 4.4 percent in May a year ago.
Arizona’s unadjusted unemployment rate in May was 3.2 percent at the state level, up from 2.6 percent in April but down from 3.8 percent in May a year prior.
The U.S. unadjusted unemployment rate in May was 3.7 percent, up from 3.5 percent in April 2024 and 3.4 percent in May 2023.
- Cochise County city and town unemployment rates in May 2024 were:
- Benson, 4.2 percent, up from 3.5 percent in April 2024 but down from 5.1 percent in May 2023.
- Bisbee, 2.3 percent, up from 1.9 percent in April this year but down from 2.8 percent in May last year.
- Douglas, 6.6 percent, up from 5.5 percent in April but down from 7.9 percent in May a year ago.
- Huachuca City, 6.1 percent, up from 5.0 percent in April this year but down from 7.2 percent in May 2023.
- Sierra Vista, 3.3 percent, up from 2.7 percent in April but down from 3.8 percent in May a year prior.
- Tombstone, 1.6 percent, up from 1.3 percent in April this year but down from 1.8 percent in May last year.
- Willcox, 9.5 percent, up from 8.0 percent in April 2024 but down from 11.2 percent in May 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.