Arizona Construction Boom Adds 900 New Employees In March!!

Arizona’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged 4.9 at percent in February and March, according to the latest report published by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.

The national rate also remained steady at 4.1 percent. Twelve months ago, the state had a seasonally adjusted rate of 5.1 percent, and the national was at 4.5.

The state had a net gain of 12,300 non-farm jobs over the month. The private sector gained 14,100. Eight of the 11 sectors tracked showed gains. Government was the biggest loser, dropping 1,800.

Construction in Arizona gained 900.

The Construction sector features three major segments: Buildings, Heavy, and Specialty Trades. There are currently 31,900 jobs in Buildings, up 900 from February and up 4,100 from March of 2017. Heavy Construction is gained 100 for the month with a total of 17,300, up 1,400 from March, 2017. Specialty Trades was unchanged for the month at 102,400, and the segment increased 5,300 over the year.

Courtesy of Arizona Department of Administration

Construction jobs in the Phoenix Metro Area (Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale) increased 1,000 over the month, for a total of 11,100. The March 2017 number was 109,600.

In Metro Tucson construction job numbers increased 100 to 16,500, an increase of 1,000 from March, 2017.

Yuma, Flagstaff, Prescott, Lake Havasu City-Kingman and Sierra Vista-Douglas combine Construction and Natural Resources jobs in reporting their job sector totals. Yuma added 100 for a total of 2,500, as did Flagstaff for 2,400. Havasu City-Kingman also added 100, totaling 3,000. Prescott was unchanged at 5,400, as was Sierra Vista-Douglas with 1,500.

Source: AZ Builders Exchange