PHOENIX — The number of new unemployment claims in the Gila Valley rose in October.
According to data released last week by the Arizona Commerce Authority, Greenlee County had an unemployment rate of 6.1 percent in October, an increase of 1.3 points from September’s unemployment rate of 4.8 percent.
Graham County is at 6.3 percent unemployment in October, up just 0.9 points from September’s 5.4 percent.
Despite the increase in local jobless claims, Greenlee and Graham remain the two counties with the lowest unemployment in the state. Cochise and La Paz counties are tied for third-lowest unemployment, with each at 6.6 percent.
Statewide, unemployment is at 8 percent, up 1.5 points from September and up 3.5 points from October 2019. The national rate was 6.9 percent.
All of the state’s economic sectors reported job gains in October. Professional and business services were up 13,400 jobs, followed by: leisure and hospitality (up 9,800); trade, transportation and utilities (up 8,200); education and health services (up 5,600 jobs); construction (up 2,400 jobs); financial activities (up 1,500); manufacturing (up 400 jobs); information (up 100) and natural resources and mining (up 100 jobs).
