PHOENIX — For the third month in a row, the unemployment rate in Greenlee County stayed flat, keeping Greenlee firmly in place as the county with the lowest unemployment rate in the state.
That’s according to data released Thursday by the Arizona Commerce Authority.
The jobless rate in Greenlee County held at 3 percent in August. It’s the ninth month in a row Greenlee has had the state’s lowest unemployment rate.
Meanwhile, Graham County’s unemployment dropped two-tenths of a point, to 3.5 percent, keeping Graham County at the fourth lowest unemployment in the state.
Maricopa and Yavapai counties are tied for second lowest at 3.4 percent.
Nearby Cochise County increased two-tenth of a percentage point, from 4.3 percent in July to 4.5 percent in August.
Statewide, the seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate increased two-tenths of a point in August, up to 3.5 percent; however, the rate remains below the same time last year, when Arizona’s unemployment rate was at 4.5 percent. The national rate increased two-tenths of a point to 3.7 percent.
Eight economic sectors reported job gains in August: Government (up 38,200 jobs); construction (up 3,700 jobs); professional and business services (up 2,100 jobs); education and health services (up 1,800 jobs); manufacturing (up 800 jobs); natural and resources and mining (up 300 jobs); trade, transportation and utilities (up 300 jobs); and information (up 100 jobs).
Reporting job losses were: Financial activities (down 800 jobs) and leisure and hospitality (down 700 jobs).
