PHOENIX — 2022 ended on a good note when it comes to the unemployment rate in Graham and Greenlee counties
According to data released Thursday by the Arizona Commerce Authority, Greenlee County held the spot as the county with the lowest unemployment in the state for 13th month in a row in December, when the unemployment rate fell three-tenths of a point, from November’s 2.7 percent to 2.4 percent.
Meanwhile, Graham County’s jobless rate fell two-tenths of a point in December to enter into a three-way tie with Maricopa and Yavapai counties for second-lowest unemployment in the state, at 2.7 percent.
Nearby Cochise County dropped three-tenths of a point in December, to 3.6 percent.
Statewide, the seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate decreased one-tenth of a point in December, down to 4 percent. However, that’s one-tenth higher than the unemployment rate in Arizona in December 2021. The national rate also dropped one-tenth of a point, to 3.3 percent.
Nine economic sectors reported job gains in December: Trade, transportation and utilities (up 4,500 jobs); professional and business services (up 4,300 jobs); education and health services (up 3,500 jobs); financial activities (up 3,100 jobs); leisure and hospitality (up 1,700 jobs); and natural and resources and mining (up 100 jobs).
Reporting job losses were: Government (down 10,800 jobs); construction (down 2,600 jobs); manufacturing (down 300 jobs); and information (down 300 jobs).
