PHOENIX — With COVID-19 numbers on the decline and businesses re-opening, more residents of Graham and Greenlee counties are going back to work.
Unemployment claims in both counties saw significant declines in August.
According to data released Thursday by the Arizona Commerce Authority, Greenlee County had an unemployment rate of 4.6 percent in August, a 3.5 point drop from July’s unemployment rate of 8.1 percent.
Graham County is at 5.3 percent unemployment in August, down 4.7 points from July’s 10 percent.
Greenlee County’s 4.6 percent unemployment remains the lowest in the state, followed by Cochise County at 5.2 percent, Graham’s 5.3 percent and Yavapai County at 5.4 percent.
Statewide, unemployment is at 5.9 percent, down 4.8 points from July but up 1.3 points from August 2019. The national rate was 8.4 percent.
Nine economic sectors reported job gains in August — education and health services (up 11,400 jobs); trade, transportation and utilities (up 7,600); professional and business services (up 3,200); leisure and hospitality (up 2,700); financial activities (up 2,000); construction (up 1,300); manufacturing (up 500); information (up 400) and natural resources and mining (up 100).
No sectors reported job losses in August.
