PHOENIX — The first jobs report issued since the federal government shutdown shows that Graham and Greenlee counties continue to hold two of the three lowest unemployment rates in the state.
That’s according to data released Thursday by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
Greenlee County’s unemployment rate increased one-tenth of a percentage point in September to 2.8 percent, the lowest jobless rate in the state for the 46th month in a row. It’s also the seventh time this year unemployment has been below 3 percent in Greenlee, and Greenlee is the only county in the state with unemployment below 4 percent.
The jobless rate in Graham County fell by one-tenth of a point in September, to 4.1 percent. That’s good for third lowest in the state behind Greenlee and Maricopa County at 4 percent.
The unemployment rate in Cochise County remained flat in September, at 5.4 percent.
Arizona’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate increased one-tenth of a point in September, to 4.2 percent, while the national unemployment rate increased by one-tenth of a point to 4.4 percent.
Job gains were reported in five economic sectors: Government (up 20,900 jobs); private educational services (up 5,900 jobs); professional and business services (up 3,200 jobs); manufacturing (up 100 jobs); and trade, transportation and utilities (up 100 jobs).
Reporting job losses were: Health care and social assistance (down 2,300 jobs), construction (down 1,800 jobs), and leisure and hospitality (down 700 jobs), information (down 600 jobs), financial activities (down 300 jobs), and natural resources and mining (down 100 jobs).
