PHOENIX — The unemployment rates in both Graham and Greenlee climbed for the second month in a row in June.
However, Greenlee remains the county with the lowest unemployment rate in Arizona for the 31st month in a row.
That’s according to data released Thursday by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
Greenlee County’s unemployment rate increased seven-tenths of a point in June to 3 percent. June marks the first time in 2024 Greenlee County’s unemployment rate hit 3 percent or higher.
Graham County’s jobless rate increased nine-tenths of a percentage point, to 3.74 percent in June. Graham has the fourth-lowest rate in the state, behind Greenlee, Maricopa at 3.4 percent and Yavapai at 3.6 percent.
The unemployment rate in nearby Cochise County increased seven-tenths of a point in June, to 4.4 percent.
“The state’s unemployment rate fell to 3.3 percent in June, down from 3.4 percent in May,” said Doug Walls, chief economist for the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity. “This is the lowest rate on record, under the current methodology dating back to 1976, and marks the fifth consecutive month in which the unemployment rate has dropped.”
The national unemployment increased one-tenth of a point to 4.1 percent in June.
Job gains were reported in five economic sectors: Financial activities (up 2,400 jobs), construction (up 400 jobs), manufacturing (up 200 jobs), natural resources and mining (up 100 jobs) and information (up 100 jobs).
Reporting job losses were: Government (down 34,000 jobs); professional and business services (down 5,000 jobs); private educational services (down 4,600 jobs); leisure and hospitality (down 2,900 jobs); trade, transportation and utilities (down 2,000 jobs); and health care and social assistance (down 1,000 jobs).
