Cochise County unemployment rate continues to fall

By: Robert Carreira, Cochise Economic Project

BENSON, Arizona (December 3, 2024) — Cochise County’s unadjusted unemployment rate in October 2024 was 4.2 percent, down from 4.3 percent in September this year and 4.7 percent in October a year ago, according to data from the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.

At the state level, Arizona’s unadjusted unemployment rate in October was 3.8 percent, down from 3.9 percent in September and 4.2 percent in October a year prior.

The U.S. unadjusted unemployment rate in October was 3.9 percent, unchanged from September 2024 but up from 3.6 percent in October 2023.

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

• Benson, 4.8 percent, down from 5.0 percent in September 2024 and 5.5 percent in October 2023.
• Bisbee, 2.6 percent, down from 2.7 percent in September this year and 3.0 percent in October last year.
• Douglas, 7.5 percent, down from 7.8 percent in September and 8.5 percent in October a year ago.
• Huachuca City, 7.0 percent, down from 7.1 percent in September this year and 7.8 percent in October 2023.
• Sierra Vista, 3.8 percent, down from 4.0 percent in September and 4.2 percent in October a year prior.
• Tombstone, 1.8 percent, the same as September this year but down from 2.0 percent in October last year.
• Willcox was 10.8 percent, down from 11.1 percent in September 2024 and 12.1 percent in October 2023.

The number of nonfarm jobs in Cochise County was up by 300 (0.9 percent) in the 12 months ended October 2024. The private sector gained 200 jobs (0.8 percent), while the government sector grew by 100 jobs (0.9 percent). Within government, the state and local levels added a combined 100 jobs (1.6 percent), while countywide federal job numbers held steady.

Within Cochise County’s private sector, goods-producing jobs increased by 200 (6.9 percent) annually, all in construction and mining (10.0 percent). Manufacturing job numbers were unchanged in the 12 months ended October 2024.

Countywide private-sector, service-providing job numbers stabilized from October 2023 to October 2024. Within private-sector services, the gain of 200 educational and health services jobs (4.2 percent) and 100 leisure and hospitality jobs (2.5 percent) were offset by the loss of 200 professional and business services jobs (-5.3 percent) and 100 jobs in the information industry (-25.0 percent). Job numbers were unchanged in trade, transportation, utilities, financial activities, and other services in the 12 months ended October.

In month-to-month comparisons, Cochise County added 200 jobs from September to October 2024, with 100 jobs in construction and mining, 100 in educational and health services, and 100 in leisure and hospitality, partly offset by the loss of 100 federal government jobs. All other private-sector industries (manufacturing, trade, transportation, and utilities; information; financial activities; professional and business services; and other services) and state and local governments saw job numbers unchanged from September to October.

Average weekly earnings in Cochise County in October 2024 were $1,055.91 (up 23.0 percent from October 2023). Average weekly hours worked were 32.6 (up from 32.2 in October a year ago). Countywide average hourly earnings in October were $32.39 (up 21.4 percent from October 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.