PHOENIX — For the 16th month in a row, Greenlee County has the lowest unemployment rate in the state.
That’s according to data released Thursday by the Arizona Commerce Authority.
Jobless claims in Greenlee County dropped two-tenths of a point in March, down to 2.1 percent. That’s the same unemployment rate as March 2022.
Meanwhile Graham County’s jobless rate dropped one-tenth of a point in March, to 3 percent, good for third-lowest unemployment in the state.
The current unemployment rate in Graham County is seven-tenths of a point higher than the same time last year.
Maricopa County has the second-lowest unemployment in the state at 2.9 percent. Nearby Cochise County decreased one-tenth of a point in March, to 4 percent.
Statewide, the seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate decreased two-tenths of a point in March, down to 3.5 percent, which is also one-tenth of a point lower than the same time last year. The national rate dropped one-tenth of a point to 3.5 percent.
Four economic sectors reported job gains in March: Manufacturing (up 1,800 jobs); construction (up 1,500 jobs); leisure and hospitality (up 1,100 jobs); and government (up 500 jobs);
Reporting job losses were: Private education and health services (down 4,300 jobs); professional and business services (down 4,100 jobs); financial activities (down 3,400 jobs); trade, transportation and utilities (down 2,100 jobs); and information (down 400 jobs).
Natural and resources and mining showed no net gain or loss in jobs in March.
