PHOENIX — When it comes to 2020, the bright spot for Greenlee County was the number of people holding a job.
According to data released Thursday by the Arizona Commerce Authority, Greenlee County had an unemployment rate of 6.0 percent in December, holding steady for the third month in a row.
It was also the 12th month in a row that Greenlee County had the lowest unemployment rate in the state.
Graham County lost its position as second-lowest in the state after jobless claims climbed two-tenths of a point in December to 6.6 percent. That puts Graham County at fifth lowest, behind Cochise and La Paz counties at 6.4 percent, and Yavapai County at 6.5 percent.
Statewide, unemployment is at 7.5 percent, down 0.5 points from November and up 3 points from December 2019. The national rate held steady at 6.7 percent.
Five economic sectors reported job gains in December. Trade, transportation and utilities were up 9,800 jobs; education and health services (up 4,000 jobs); professional and business services (up 3,100 jobs); information (up 200); and natural resources and mining (up 100 jobs).
Posting job losses were construction (down 5,100 jobs) and financial activities (down 2,300 jobs). Leisure and hospitality, and manufacturing showed neither gains nor losses in December.
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