Arizona’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.6% in both July 2018 and August 2018. During that same period, Arizona’s seasonally adjusted labor force level decreased by 292 individuals. From August 2017 to August 2018, Arizona’s seasonally adjusted labor force level increased by 49,509 individuals. The U.S. seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.9% in both July 2018 and August 2018.
Overall, Arizona gained 64,300 nonfarm jobs in August 2018, which is higher than the historical post -recession (2010 –2017) average gain of 51,000 jobs in August. The government sector recorded a gain of 41,300 jobs in August 2018.
The private sector recorded a net gain of 23,000 jobs, which is higher than the historical post-recession (2010 –2017) average gain of 16,600 jobs in August.
The private sector gained 23,000 nonfarm jobs in August 2018 in the following sectors:
• Professional & Business Services (6,300 jobs)
• Education and Health Services (5,900 jobs)
• Trade, Transportation, & Utilities (3,800 jobs)
• Leisure & Hospitality (3,800 jobs)
• Financial Activities (2,700 jobs)
• Construction (900 jobs)
• Information (100 jobs)
The private sector lost 500 nonfarm jobs in August in the following sectors:
•Manufacturing (200 jobs)
•Other Services (300 jobs)
Natural Resources & Mining recorded neither gains nor losses (0 jobs).
Over the Year
Employment in Arizona is up 3.0% year over year. From August 2017 to August 2018, Arizona recorded a net gain of 82,800 nonfarm jobs, with the majority (76,100) in the private sector.
Gains were reported in:
• Construction (15,100 jobs)
• Professional & Business Services (14,300 jobs)
• Education & Health Services (12,200 jobs)
• Leisure & Hospitality (10,100 jobs)
• Trade, Transportation, & Utilities (9,500 jobs)
• Manufacturing (8,000 jobs)
• Financial Activities (5,600 jobs)
• Information (800 jobs)
• Other Services (600 jobs)
Only Natural Resources & Mining reported job losses (100 jobs) from
August 2017 to August 2018.
