PHOENIX — Even with the increased number of unemployment claims due to business shutdowns and layoffs resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, Greenlee County has Arizona’s lowest unemployment rate by a wide margin.
According to data released Thursday by the Arizona Commerce Authority, Greenlee County had an unemployment rate of just 5.3 percent in April, up slightly from 5.2 percent in March.
The state’s second-lowest unemployment rate was next door in Graham County, which reported a jobless rate of 7.5 percent in April, up from 6.6 percent in March.
The only other county with unemployment in single digits was La Paz County, at 8.5 percent.
Statewide, unemployment was at 12.6 percent in April while the national rate was 14.7 percent.
Only one economic sector posted a gain in jobs in April — mining, which reported a net increase of 100 jobs statewide.
Job losses were reported in leisure and hospitality (down 122,600 jobs); trade, transportation and utilities (down 57,400); education and health services (down 37,200), professional and business services (down 29,800); information (down 5,700); construction (down 4,200); manufacturing (down 3,900); and financial activities (down 2,700).
