BENSON, Arizona — The number of nonfarm jobs in Cochise County was up by 300 in the 12 months ended December 2023, for job growth of 0.9 percent, according to data from the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity. The gains were split between the government and private sectors.
Cochise County’s government sector was up by 100 jobs (0.9 percent), all of which were state and local government jobs (1.6 percent). Countywide federal government job numbers were unchanged in the 12 months ended December.
Cochise County’s private sector grew by 200 jobs (0.9 percent) in the 12 months ended December. Goods-producing jobs were up by 100 (3.7 percent), all of which were in construction and mining (5.0 percent). Manufacturing job numbers were unchanged.
Countywide private-sector, service-providing jobs were up by 100 (0.5 percent) from December 2022 to December 2023, with the gain of 100 jobs in educational and health services (2.2 percent) and 100 in leisure and hospitality (2.6 percent), partly offset by the loss of 100 trade, transportation, and utilities jobs (-1.6 percent). Job numbers held steady in information; financial activities; professional and business services; and other services in the 12 months ended December.
In month-to-month comparisons, the overall number of nonfarm jobs in Cochise County was up by 100 from November to December, all of which were in the private sector in trade, transportation, and utilities. All other private-sector industries (construction and mining; manufacturing; information; financial activities; professional and business services; educational and health services; leisure and hospitality; and other services) saw job numbers unchanged from November to December. Government job numbers also held steady from November to December with stabilization across the federal, state, and local levels.
Average weekly earnings in Cochise County in December 2023 were $865.48 (up 20.2 percent from December 2022). Average weekly hours worked were 30.8 (down marginally from 30.9 in December a year ago). Countywide average hourly earnings in December were $28.10 (up 20.6 percent from December 2022).
Cochise County’s unadjusted unemployment rate in December 2023 was 4.3 percent, down from 4.6 percent in November 2023, but up from 4.0 percent December 2022.
At the state level, Arizona’s unadjusted unemployment rate in December was 3.8 percent, down from 4.0 percent in November but up from 3.3 percent in December a year prior. The U.S. unadjusted unemployment rate in December was 3.5 percent, unchanged from November 2023, but up from 3.3 percent in December 2022.
Cochise County municipality unemployment rates in December 2023 were:
- Benson, 4.2 percent, down from 4.5 percent in November 2023, but up from 3.9 percent in December 2022.
- Bisbee, 3.1 percent, down from 3.3 percent in November but up from 2.8 percent in December a year prior.
- Douglas, 8.5 percent, down from 9.0 percent in November but up from 7.8 percent in December a year ago.
- Huachuca City, 6.5 percent, down from 6.9 percent in November but up from 6.0 percent in December 2022.
- Sierra Vista, 3.8 percent, down from 3.9 percent in November but up from 3.2 percent in December a year prior.
- Tombstone, 1.9 percent, down from 2.1 percent in November and the same level as in December a year ago.
- Willcox, 7.3 percent, down from 7.7 percent November 2023, but up from 6.7 percent in December 2022.
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.