PHOENIX — Graham and Greenlee counties are doing better than the state as a whole when it comes to employment.
According to data released Thursday by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
While unemployment increased statewide in March, the jobless rate fell in both Greenlee and Graham.
Greenlee County’s unemployment rate decreased two-tenths of a percentage point from February, to 2.9 percent. Greenlee is the only county in the state with a jobless rate under 3 percent and one of two (Maricopa County at 3.9 percent) under 4 percent. March marked the 51st month in a row that Greenlee had the state’s lowest unemployment.
The unemployment rate in Graham County dropped five-tenths of a point in March, to 4.1 percent. That’s good for third lowest in the state.
The unemployment rate in Cochise County dropped four-tenths of a point in March, at 5.7 percent.
Arizona’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate increased one-tenth of a point in March, to 4.7 percent, while the national unemployment rate fell one-tenth of a point to 4.3 percent.
Job gains were reported in just two economic sectors: Health care and social assistance (up 1,400 jobs), and construction (up 300 jobs).
Job losses were reported in: Trade, transportation and utilities (down 3,600 jobs); financial activities (down 3,300 jobs); leisure and hospitality (down 2,200 jobs); government (down 1,700 jobs); professional and business services (down 1,500 jobs); private educational services (down 500 jobs); manufacturing (down 500 jobs); information (down 500 jobs); and natural resources and mining (down 100 jobs).
