LOOKING CLOSER AT UNEMPLOYMENT
posted by Amer Taleb
In general, Arizona’s unemployment rate has trended downward over the last few years, falling nearly 2 percentage points.
Unemployment was above 10 percent in December 2009. The Office of Employment and Population Statistics’ newest numbers – from December 2011 – says it's dropped to 8.7 percent.
The first set of employment data for 2012 will be released March 8th at a press conference with Aruna Murthy, director of economic analysis for the Arizona Department of Administration.
Putting the freshest digits into perspective, here’s some key points from the December 2011 report:
• 5 of 11 major sectors saw job growth, with Professional and Business Services leading the way with 4,000 jobs. • A combination of below average job gains in the private sector and above average losses in the government resulted in a net loss in Total Nonfarm employment. • Uncharacteristically, Educational and Health Services lost 1,200 jobs.
Over the course of the year, nonfarm employment gained nearly 40,000 jobs and 10 of 11 major sectors experienced job growth. The Arizona Department of Administration projects moderate employment gains in 2012.
