PHOENIX — Following three months of increases, the unemployment rate in both Greenlee and Graham counties dropped.
That’s according to data released Thursday by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
Greenlee County’s unemployment rate fell three-tenths of a percentage point in August to 2.7 percent, the lowest jobless rate in the state for the 45th month in a row. It’s also the sixth time this year unemployment has been below 3 percent in Greenlee.
The jobless rate in Graham County also fell by three-tenths of a point in August, to 4.2 percent. That’s good for third lowest in the state behind Greenlee and Maricopa County at 4.1 percent.
The unemployment rate in Cochise County decreased by one-tenth of a percentage point in August, to 5.4 percent.
Arizona’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate remained flat in August, at 4.1 percent, while the national unemployment rate increased by one-tenth of a point to 4.3 percent.
Job gains were reported in nine economic sectors: Government (up 23,400 jobs); health care and social assistance (up 5,300 jobs); professional and business services (up 4,700 jobs); construction (up 2,900 jobs); ); trade, transportation and utilities (up 1,400 jobs); financial activities (up 1,300 jobs); manufacturing (up 300 jobs); and natural resources and mining (up 100 jobs).
Reporting job losses were information, and leisure and hospitality, both down 100 jobs.
