PRESS RELEASE: March 29, 2012
Dr. Robert Carreira
Director, Center for Economic Research
Cochise College
901 N. Colombo Ave.
Sierra Vista, AZ 85635
Phone: 520-515-5486
Email: cer@cochise.edu
County unemployment rate dips below 8 percent
According to figures released by the Arizona Office of Employment and Population Statistics, adjusted for seasonality by the Cochise College Center for Economic Research, Cochise County's unemployment rate in January declined from 8.1 to 7.9 percent, its lowest level since July 2009.
Statewide, the unemployment rate in January dropped from 9 to 8.7 percent, its lowest level since December 2010. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national unemployment rate dropped from 8.5 to 8.3 percent, its lowest level since February 2009.
City-level seasonally adjusted unemployment rates for January were: Benson, 13.6 percent; Bisbee, 8.6 percent; Douglas, 11.9 percent; Huachuca City, 11.2 percent; Sierra Vista, 6.9 percent; Tombstone, 5.3 percent; and Willcox, 11.8 percent.
OEPS unadjusted unemployment estimates for the cities in Cochise County, except Sierra Vista, are based on a model that pegs city employment to county-level employment based on data from Census 2000. The model does not pick up changes at the city level since 2000 that differ from county-level trends. CER research based on more recent Census Bureau data suggests the unemployment rates in Benson, Douglas, Huachuca City, and Willcox are lower than estimated by OEPS, while rates in Bisbee and Tombstone are higher. Sierra Vista's unemployment rate is estimated by BLS using more recent data than that used by OEPS for the other cities.
According to OEPS figures, Cochise County lost a net 625 nonfarm jobs in January, fewer than seasonally expected. There were 325 jobs lost in the private sector and 300 lost in the government sector. Within the government sector, 275 of the jobs lost were in state and local government and 25 were federal jobs.
Within the private sector, Cochise County's goods-producing subsector, which includes manufacturing and construction, stabilized at December employment levels in January. Both manufacturing and construction jobs stabilized.
The county's private service-providing subsector lost 325 jobs from December to January. Within this subsector, professional and business services gained 25 jobs. The information industry and financial activities each stabilized at December employment levels in January. The trade, transportation, and utilities industry grouping lost 200 jobs. Educational and health services declined by 75 jobs, leisure and hospitality lost 50 jobs, and other services shed 25 jobs in January. The educational and health services industry does not include public education jobs such as those in the public school districts and Cochise College, which are classified as state and local government jobs.
The total number of nonfarm jobs countywide was up by 150 in the 12 months ended in January, for a 12-month job growth rate of 0.4 percent. This was the fourth consecutive month, and fifth of the past six months, to see year-over-year job growth at the county level.
Private sector jobs were down by 50 in the 12 months ended in January, for job growth of -0.2 percent. Government jobs were up by 200, for job growth of 1.6 percent.
Within the private sector, the goods producing subsector gained 100 jobs in the 12 months ended in January for growth of 5.3 percent. Within this subsector, construction added 50 jobs, for growth of 3.6 percent. Manufacturing also grew by 50 jobs, for 12-month job growth of 10.5 percent.
The county's private service-providing subsector saw a net loss of 150 jobs in the 12 months ended in January for job growth of -0.7 percent. Within this subsector, leisure and hospitality gained 175 jobs for a job growth rate of 4.6 percent. Trade, transportation, and utilities added 100 jobs for a 12-month job growth rate of 1.6 percent. Financial activities grew by 50 jobs for job growth of 5.6 percent. Professional and business services lost 375 jobs for job growth of -6.8 percent. Information declined by 50 jobs for job growth of -7.4 percent. Educational and health services, and other services each shed 25 jobs in the 12 months ended in January for growth rates of -0.6 and -2.7 percent, respectively.
Federal government saw a gain of 100 jobs in the 12 months ended in January, for job growth of 1.7 percent. State and local government also gained 100 jobs, for growth of 1.5 percent.
Nonfarm job numbers for Cochise County do not include active duty military personnel, but do include Fort Huachuca's civilian workers and government contractors. The calculation of the unemployment rate includes active duty military personnel, as well as agricultural workers.
Dr. Robert Carreira is director of the Center for Economic Research at Cochise College. If you have any questions on the economy, please contact the CER at (520) 515-5486 or by email at cer@cochise.edu. Check out the CER's website at www.cochise.edu/cer.
| UNEMPLOYMENT RATES (%) | |||
| | January 2012 | December 2011 | January 2011 |
| United States | 8.3 | 8.5 | 9.1 |
| Arizona | 8.7 | 9.0 | 9.9 |
| Cochise County | 7.9 | 8.1 | 9.0 |
| Benson | 13.6 | 14.1 | 15.4 |
| Bisbee | 8.6 | 9.0 | 9.9 |
| Douglas | 11.9 | 12.3 | 13.5 |
| Huachuca City | 11.2 | 11.7 | 12.8 |
| Sierra Vista | 6.9 | 7.4 | 8.0 |
| Tombstone | 5.3 | 5.5 | 6.1 |
| Willcox | 11.8 | 12.2 | 13.4 |
| Note. Rates are seasonally adjusted. Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Arizona Office of Employment and Population Statistics, and Cochise College Center for Economic Research | |||
| | January 2012 | December 2011 | 1-Month Change | January 2011 | 12-Month Change | 12-Month Job Growth Rate |
| Total Non-farm Jobs | 36,950 | 37,575 | -625 | 36,800 | 150 | 0.4% |
| Total Private Sector Jobs | 24,100 | 24,425 | -325 | 24,150 | -50 | -0.2% |
| Goods Producing Jobs | 1,975 | 1,975 | 0 | 1,875 | 100 | 5.3% |
| Construction* | 1,450 | 1,450 | 0 | 1,400 | 50 | 3.6% |
| Manufacturing | 525 | 525 | 0 | 475 | 50 | 10.5% |
| Service Providing Jobs | 34,975 | 35,600 | -625 | 34,925 | 50 | 0.1% |
| Private Service Providing Jobs | 22,125 | 22,450 | -325 | 22,275 | -150 | -0.7% |
| Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 6,325 | 6,525 | -200 | 6,225 | 100 | 1.6% |
| Information | 625 | 625 | 0 | 675 | -50 | -7.4% |
| Financial Activities | 950 | 950 | 0 | 900 | 50 | 5.6% |
| Professional and Business Services | 5,175 | 5,150 | 25 | 5,550 | -375 | -6.8% |
| Educational and Health Services | 4,150 | 4,225 | -75 | 4,175 | -25 | -0.6% |
| Leisure and Hospitality | 4,000 | 4,050 | -50 | 3,825 | 175 | 4.6% |
| Other Services | 900 | 925 | -25 | 925 | -25 | -2.7% |
| Government Jobs | 12,850 | 13,150 | -300 | 12,650 | 200 | 1.6% |
| Federal Government | 5,925 | 5,950 | -25 | 5,825 | 100 | 1.7% |
| State and Local Government | 6,925 | 7,200 | -275 | 6,825 | 100 | 1.5% |
| * Includes mining Note. Discrepancies due to rounding Source: Arizona Office of Employment and Population Statistics and Cochise College Center for Economic Research | ||||||
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