PHOENIX — for the third month in a row, and the fourth time this calendar year, the unemployment rate rose in Graham County.
That’s according to data released Thursday by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
The jobless rate in Graham County increased by three-tenths of a point in July, to 4.5 percent. That’s the highest unemployment has been in Graham County since July 2023, when the rate hit a two-year high of 4.8 percent.
Meanwhile, Greenlee County continues to have the lowest unemployment in the state, by remaining flat in July at 3 percent.
It’s the 44th month in a row Greenlee County had the lowest unemployment rate in the state, ahead of Maricopa County at 4.1 percent, and Yavapai and Graham both at 4.5 percent.
The jobless rate in Cochise County also increased by two-tenths of a percentage point in July, to 5.5 percent.
Arizona’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate remained flat in July, at 4.1 percent, while the national unemployment rate increased by one-tenth of a point to 4.2 percent.
Job gains were reported in just three economic sectors: Health care and social assistance (up 2,900 jobs), financial activities (up 1,200 jobs), and natural resources and mining (up 300 jobs).
Reporting job losses were: Leisure and hospitality (down 7,900 jobs); government (down 5,200 jobs); trade, transportation and utilities (down 4,200 jobs); professional and business services (down 2,100 jobs); manufacturing (down 1,100 jobs); private educational services (down 900 jobs); information (down 600 jobs) and construction (down 400 jobs).
