PHOENIX — The unemployment rate in Graham County increased by one full point in May.
That’s according to data released Thursday by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
May’s unemployment rate in Graham County climbed to 3.9 percent, the second greatest increase in jobless claims behind Yuma County, which grew 1.5 points to 13.9 percent.
Despite the increase, Graham County has the third lowest unemployment rate in the state behind Greenlee County, which grew seven-tenths of a point to 2.9, and Maricopa County at 3.6 percent.
May is the 42nd month in a row Greenlee County had the lowest unemployment rate in the state.
The jobless rate in Cochise County increased eight-tenths of a percentage point in May, to 5 percent.
Arizona’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate remained flat in May, at 4.1 percent, as did the national unemployment rate at 4.2 percent.
Job gains were reported in just three economic sectors: Health care and social assistance (up 2,300 jobs), financial activities (up 500 jobs) and natural resources and mining (up 100 jobs).
Reporting job losses were: Government (down 7,200 jobs); professional and business services (down 4,100 jobs); private educational services (down 4,100 jobs); trade, transportation and utilities (down 3,100 jobs); construction (down 1,700 jobs); leisure and hospitality (down 600 jobs); manufacturing (down 300 jobs) and information (down 300 jobs).
