PHOENIX — The unemployment rate in both Greenlee and Graham counties decreased in March, but both are higher than the same time last year.
That’s according to data released Thursday by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
For the 40th month in a row, the unemployment rate in Greenlee County is the lowest in the state, at 2.5 percent in March, down two-tenths of a point from February. Greenlee is also the only county in Arizona with an unemployment rate under 3 percent.
While Greenlee has the lowest unemployment rate in the state, it is four-tenths of a point higher than March 2024.
Graham County’s jobless rate decreased one-tenth of a percentage point, to 3.5 percent in March, giving Graham the second-lowest unemployment rate in the state, ahead of Maricopa County at 3.6 percent.
Just like in Greenlee, Graham’s unemployment rate this year is higher than the same time last year, when the jobless rate was one full percentage point lower at 2.5 percent.
The unemployment rate in Cochise County remained flat in March, at 4.8 percent.
Statewide, the seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate increased by two-tenths of a point in March, to 4.1 percent, while the national unemployment increased by one-tenth of a point, to 4.2 percent.
Job gains were reported in six economic sectors: Leisure and hospitality (up 3,300 jobs), health care and social assistance (up 3,000 jobs), construction (up 2,000 jobs), professional and business services (up 1,800 jobs), natural resources and mining (up 300 jobs) and private educational services (up 200 jobs).
Reporting job losses were: Trade, transportation and utilities (down 5,100 jobs); financial activities (down 600 jobs); government (down 400 jobs); manufacturing (down 300 jobs); and information (down 300 jobs).
