Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Arizona Unemployment Remains Stable

In a positive sign for the economy, the Arizona unemployment rate remained steady at the beginning of this year.

During January, Arizona's unemployment rate remained at 9.2 percent for the second month in a row, following a decrease from 9.3 percent during December 2009. That decrease keeps the state's current rate below the national unemployment rate of 9.7 percent.

Arizona had a total non-farm employment of 2,382,300 workers during January, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is down from 2,385,900 workers during December and a 5.4 percent decrease from last year.

Five industries managed to see a monthly increase in employment, including: mining and logging by 100 jobs; construction by 800 jobs; trade, transportation and utilities by 1,600 jobs; other services by 1,300 jobs; and government by 4,100 jobs.

Only one industry saw a yearly increase in employment. The education and health services industry employed 333,800 workers during January, down from 334,800 workers during December, but a 2.1 percent increase from January 2009.

Although it added jobs over the month, the construction industry took the biggest hit when compared to last year. The industry employed 114,500 workers during January, up from 113,700 workers during December, but a 26 percent decrease from last year.

Other industries that saw an over-the-year decrease in employment include:
  • mining and logging by 15 percent
  • manufacturing by 11 percent
  • trade, transportation and utilities by 3.7 percent
  • information by 9 percent
  • financial activities by 4.6 percent
  • professional and business services by 7 percent
  • leisure and hospitality by 3.4 percent
  • other services by 5.4 percent
  • government by 3.4 percent

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