The State of Arizona released the August unemployment rates last week. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Arizona increased three-tenths of a percentage point from 8.0% in July to 8.3% in August.
The U.S. seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped one-tenth of a percentage point from 7.4% in July to 7.3% in August. A year ago, the Arizona seasonally adjusted rate was 8.3% and the U.S. rate was 8.1% (see Figure 1). In August, 39,800 Nonfarm jobs (1.6%) were added to Arizona’s payrolls. This gain was nearly identical to the ten-year-average (’03-’12) gain of 39,900 jobs, but less than the two previous years which recorded August gains of 55,000 in 2011 and 59,000 in 2012. Government increased the majority of gains with 32,000 jobs (8.8%) added. This gain was more than the ten-year-average (’03-’12) gain of 28,600, but less than the two previous years which recorded gains of 41,000 jobs (2011) and 40,700 jobs (2012) respectively. Gains in August are typical as schools resume with new staffing levels at the beginning of the academic year. The Private Sector added 7,800 jobs (0.4%), less than the ten-year-average (’03-’12) gain of 11,400 jobs.
Six of the eleven major sectors had gains while five recorded losses. Government reported the largest gain of 32,000 jobs (8.8%) in August. Government gains in August are typical as schools resume after summer break. Local Government added the majority of jobs with 28,600 jobs. Gains in Local Education (29,800 jobs) were offset slightly by losses in non-education related sectors (-1,200 jobs). State Government added 3,100 jobs all from State Education (3,100 jobs). The Federal Government added 300 jobs. Education and Health Services added 8,000 jobs (2.2%). Most of the gains occurred in Educational Services which gained 4,400 jobs. This gain was slightly higher than the ten-year-average (’03-’12) gain (3,900 jobs), but lower than the August gain in the previous three years (’10-’12). Health Care added 2,000 jobs from Ambulatory Health Care Services (800 jobs), Hospitals (700 jobs), and Nursing and Residential Care Facilities (500 jobs). Social Assistance added 1,600 jobs, the highest over-the-month gain since 1990.
Total Nonfarm employment increased by 2.0% (48,100 jobs) in August over the same time last year. The Private Sector added 48,700 jobs over the year (2.4%), while Government lost 600 jobs (-0.2%). Eight of the eleven major sectors reported gains with three reporting losses. Educational and Health Services reported the largest over-the-year gain of 11,000 jobs (3.0%), followed by Leisure and Hospitality (10,900 jobs) and Trade, Transportation and Utilities (10,000 jobs) sectors. Other major sectors reporting gains include: Financial Activities (7,300 jobs); Construction (5,600 jobs); Professional and Business Services (4,400 jobs); Information (1,500 jobs); and Natural Resource and Mining (300 jobs). Manufacturing (-1,200 jobs), Other Services (-1,100 jobs) and Government (-600 jobs) all lost jobs over the year.
For the full state report http://www.workforce.az.gov/pubs/labor/PrAug13.pdf