COUNTY BY COUNTY, JOB PICTURE IMPROVES

posted by Amer Taleb

The monthly rise and fall of unemployment in Arizona’s two biggest counties was almost identical in 2011.

With about 2 million people in its labor force, Maricopa County’s unemployment rate dropped from 9.1 percent in January 2011 to 7.7 by the end of the year. Pima County’s rate fell from 9.2 to 7.9 percent. Nearly 500,000 people work in Pima County, according to the Arizona Department of Administration.

Unemployment in all 15 counties dropped by at least half a percentage point, except in Yuma. Yuma County, which relies heavily on agriculture and seasonal workers, started and ended the year at 23.1 percent unemployment. In July, unemployment in its workforce of 99,000 topped 30 percent.

Graham County’s 2.5 percentage points decrease was the largest last year.

As a whole, Arizona’s unemployment rate fell from 9.6 percent to 8.7 percent, according to the ADA. Over the last decade, the lowest rate Arizona experienced was in 2007, when unemployment was under 4 percent.

Shortly after, the market crashed and two years later, it was above 10 percent.

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.

PERSONNEL REFORM: IT'S HE SAID, SHE SAID

posted by Michael Chihak

He said:

“You really need a wholesale and comprehensive reform of the system to eliminate those presumptions that are so easily manipulated by creative lawyering.”

She said:

“The system is not broken. We agree that there are some personnel rules that can be modified and improved upon, but the bill that we’re looking at and discussing today, HB2571, is overreaching. We feel it’s dangerous, and it’s reckless.”

He is Nick Dranias, a lawyer and head of the Center for Constitutional Government at the Goldwater Institute in Phoenix.

She is Sheri Van Horsen, president of Local 3111 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, also in Phoenix.

Both made the remarks in interview for Friday's Arizona Week broadcast on the issue of state personnel reform.

The legislation, HB2571, is one of Gov. Jan Brewer's "four cornerstones of reform" and thus, is getting lots of attention at the state Capitol.

It would toss out the current civil service system and replace it with an "at-will" system similar to the private sector. That would give state department heads the ability to hire, discipline and fire employees at their wills.

Currently, the civil service system provides appeal and due process avenues, including a ivil service review board that can approve, reject or modify disciplinary procedures, including firings, against state employees.

Watch Arizona Week at 8:30 p.m. on PBS-HD6 for an in-depth report.