PHOENIX — For the first time in more than 30 years, the jobless rate in Greenlee County has fallen under 2 percent.
That’s according to data released Thursday by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
Greenlee County’s unemployment rate fell three-tenths of a point in April to 1.8 percent, the third month in a row that the jobless rate has declined and the 29th month in a row Greenlee County has held the lowest unemployment rate in the state.
Graham County’s jobless rate fell four-tenths of a percentage point, to 2.1 percent in April, the fourth month in a row the jobless rate has declined. Graham has the second-lowest rate in the state, with Maricopa County third at 2.3 percent.
The unemployment rate in nearby Cochise County dropped three-tenths of a point in April, falling to 3 percent.
Statewide, the seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate dropped two-tenths of a point in April, to 3.6 percent, which is same as the same time last year. The national rate increased one-tenth of a point to 3.9 percent.
Job gains were reported in seven economic sectors: Private education and health services (up 4,800 jobs); professional and business services (up 2,000 jobs); financial activities (up 1,600 jobs); government (up 1,300 jobs); trade, transportation and utilities (up 1,200 jobs); leisure and hospitality (up 900 jobs); and information (up 400 jobs).
Reporting job losses was manufacturing, which was down 400 jobs. Construction, and natural resources and mining reported no job gains or losses in April.
