BENSON, Arizona (September 4, 2024) — The number of nonfarm jobs in Cochise County was up by 600 (1.8 percent) in the 12 months ended July 2024, according to data from the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity. The job gains were evenly split between the private and government sectors, with 12-month job growth rates of 1.3 percent and 3.0 percent, respectively. Within government, federal jobs in Cochise County were up by 100 (2.2 percent), while state and local governments added 200 jobs (3.7 percent).
Within Cochise County’s private sector, goods-producing jobs were up by 200 (7.1 percent) over the year, with 100 new jobs in construction and mining (5.0 percent) and 100 in manufacturing (12.5 percent).
Countywide private-sector, service-providing jobs were up by 100 (0.5 percent) from July 2023 to July 2024. Within private-sector services, the gain of 100 trade, transportation, and utilities jobs (1.6 percent) and 200 educational and health services jobs (4.3 percent) were partly offset by the loss of 200 professional and business services jobs (-5.3 percent). Job numbers were unchanged in the information industry, financial activities, leisure and hospitality, and other services in the 12 months ended July.
In month-to-month comparisons, Cochise County lost 400 jobs from June to July 2024, which aligns with seasonal expectations. Those losses were split between the private and public sectors. Within the government, job numbers were down by 200, with the gain of 100 federal jobs overshadowed by the loss of 300 state and local government jobs.
Private-sector job numbers also declined by 200 from June to July, with the loss of 100 jobs in trade, transportation, and utilities and 100 jobs in leisure and hospitality. All other private-sector industries (construction and mining, manufacturing, information, financial activities, professional and business services, educational and health services, and other services) saw job numbers unchanged over the month.
Average weekly earnings in Cochise County in July 2024 were $993.53 (up 21.9 percent from July 2023). Average weekly hours worked were 32.5 (down from 32.8 in July a year ago). Countywide average hourly earnings in July were $30.57 (up 23.0 percent from July 2023).
Cochise County’s unadjusted unemployment rate in July 2024 was 5.0 percent, up from 4.4 percent in June this year and the same level as July a year ago.
At the state level, Arizona’s unadjusted unemployment rate in July was 4.4 percent, up from 3.9 percent in June and 4.3 percent in July a year prior.
The U.S. unadjusted unemployment rate in July was 4.5 percent, up from 4.1 percent in June 2024 and 3.8 percent in July 2023.
Cochise County city and town unemployment rates in July 2024 were:
- Benson, 5.8 percent, up from 5.1 percent in June 2024 and the same level as July 2023.
- Bisbee, 3.2 percent, up from 2.8 percent in June this year and unchanged from July last year.
- Douglas, 8.9 percent, up from 8.0 percent in June and the same as July a year ago.
- Huachuca City, 8.2 percent, up from 7.3 percent in June this year and 8.1 percent in July 2023.
- Sierra Vista, 4.6 percent, up from 4.0 percent in June and 4.5 percent in July a year prior.
- Tombstone, 2.0 percent, up from 1.8 percent in June this year but down from 2.1 percent in July last year.
- Willcox, 12.6 percent, up from 11.4 percent in June 2024 but down from 12.7 percent in July 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 Southeast Arizona Economic Development Group project in partnership with Arizona G&T Cooperatives and community sponsors.