PHOENIX — There was good news when it comes to unemployment in both Graham and Greenlee counties in February.
According to data released Thursday by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity, Greenlee County’s unemployment rate decreased two-tenths of a percentage point from January, to 3.1 percent.
Greenlee is the only county in the state with a jobless rate under 4 percent, and it was the 50th month in a row that Greenlee had the state’s lowest unemployment.
The unemployment rate in Graham County dropped three-tenths of a point in February, to 4.6 percent. That’s good for third lowest in the state behind Greenlee and Maricopa County at 4.2 percent.
The unemployment rate in Cochise County remained flat in February, at 6.1 percent.
Arizona’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate increased one-tenth of a point in February, to 4.6 percent, while the national unemployment rate climbed one-tenth of a point to 4.4 percent.
Job gains were reported in 10 economic sectors: Government (up 9,700 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up 8,400 jobs), professional and business services (up 6,900 jobs), construction (up 2,900 jobs), private educational services (up 2,200 jobs), health care and social assistance (up 800 jobs), manufacturing (up 700 jobs), financial activities (up 600 jobs), information (up 500 jobs), and natural resources and mining (up 100 jobs).
Trade, transportation and utilities reported 3,200 jobs lost.
