PRESS RELEASE: May 3, 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 gains jobs, unemployment rate drops
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 gained 275 jobs in March. The county gained 300 private sector jobs while shedding 25 government jobs, all of which were in state and local government.
The county's unemployment rate in March fell from 8 to 7.8 percent, its lowest level since July 2009. The monthly rate was down from 8.9 percent a year prior. Statewide, the unemployment rate in March dropped from 8.7 to 8.6 percent, its lowest level since February 2009. The statewide rate was down from 9.6 percent in March 2011. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national unemployment rate dropped from 8.3 to 8.2 percent in March, compared to 8.9 percent a year prior.
City-level seasonally adjusted unemployment rates for March were: Benson, 13.6 percent; Bisbee, 8.6 percent; Douglas, 11.8 percent; Huachuca City, 11.2 percent; Sierra Vista, 7.1 percent; Tombstone, 5.2 percent; and Willcox, 11.7 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.
Within Cochise County's private sector, the goods-producing subsector, which includes manufacturing and construction, stabilized at February employment levels in March. Both manufacturing and construction jobs stabilized.
The county's private service-providing subsector gained 300 jobs from February to March. Within this subsector, professional and business services and leisure and hospitality each gained 100 jobs. The industry groupings of information, financial activities, other services, and trade, transportation and utilities each gained 25 jobs. Educational and health services stabilized at February employment levels in March. The educational and health services industry does not include public education jobs such as those in the public school districts, University of Arizona South, and Cochise College, which are classified as state and local government jobs.
Despite the monthly gains, the total number of nonfarm jobs countywide was down by 25 in the 12 months ended in March, for a 12-month job growth rate of -0.1 percent. Private sector jobs were down by 75 in the 12 months ended in March, for job growth of -0.3 percent. Government jobs were up by 50 for job growth of 0.4 percent. Within the government sector, federal government saw a gain of 25 jobs in the 12 months ended in March for job growth of 0.4 percent. State and local government also gained 25 jobs for 12-month job growth of 0.4 percent.
Within the private sector, the goods producing subsector gained 50 jobs in the 12 months ended in March for growth of 2.6 percent. Within this subsector, construction added 25 jobs for growth of 1.8 percent. Manufacturing also grew by 25 jobs for 12-month job growth of 5 percent.
The county's private service-providing subsector saw a net loss of 125 jobs in the 12 months ended in March for job growth of -0.6 percent. Within this subsector, the trade, transportation, and utilities industry grouping 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. Other services gained 25 jobs for growth of 2.8 percent. Leisure and hospitality lost 25 jobs for a job growth rate of -0.6 percent. Information declined by 25 jobs for job growth of -3.7 percent. Educational and health services also declined by 25 jobs for growth of -0.6 percent. Professional and business services lost 225 jobs in the 12 months ended in March for job growth of -4.1 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 (%) | |||
| | March 2012 | February 2012 | March 2011 |
| United States | 8.2 | 8.3 | 8.9 |
| Arizona | 8.6 | 8.7 | 9.6 |
| Cochise County | 7.8 | 8.0 | 8.9 |
| Benson | 13.6 | 13.9 | 15.2 |
| Bisbee | 8.6 | 8.8 | 9.7 |
| Douglas | 11.8 | 12.1 | 13.3 |
| Huachuca City | 11.2 | 11.4 | 12.6 |
| Sierra Vista | 7.1 | 7.5 | 8.0 |
| Tombstone | 5.2 | 5.5 | 6.1 |
| Willcox | 11.7 | 12.0 | 13.2 |
| 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 | |||
| | March 2012 | February 2012 | 1-Month Change | March 2011 | 12-Month Change | 12-Month Job Growth Rate |
| Total Non-farm Jobs | 37,400 | 37,125 | 275 | 37,425 | -25 | -0.1% |
| Total Private Sector Jobs | 24,375 | 24,075 | 300 | 24,450 | -75 | -0.3% |
| Goods Producing Jobs | 1,975 | 1,975 | 0 | 1,925 | 50 | 2.6% |
| Construction* | 1,450 | 1,450 | 0 | 1,425 | 25 | 1.8% |
| Manufacturing | 525 | 525 | 0 | 500 | 25 | 5.0% |
| Service Providing Jobs | 35,425 | 35,150 | 275 | 35,500 | -75 | -0.2% |
| Private Service Providing Jobs | 22,400 | 22,100 | 300 | 22,525 | -125 | -0.6% |
| Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 6,325 | 6,300 | 25 | 6,225 | 100 | 1.6% |
| Information | 650 | 625 | 25 | 675 | -25 | -3.7% |
| Financial Activities | 950 | 925 | 25 | 900 | 50 | 5.6% |
| Professional and Business Services | 5,275 | 5,175 | 100 | 5,500 | -225 | -4.1% |
| Educational and Health Services | 4,175 | 4,175 | 0 | 4,200 | -25 | -0.6% |
| Leisure and Hospitality | 4,100 | 4,000 | 100 | 4,125 | -25 | -0.6% |
| Other Services | 925 | 900 | 25 | 900 | 25 | 2.8% |
| Government Jobs | 13,025 | 13,050 | -25 | 12,975 | 50 | 0.4% |
| Federal Government | 5,900 | 5,900 | 0 | 5,875 | 25 | 0.4% |
| State and Local Government | 7,125 | 7,150 | -25 | 7,100 | 25 | 0.4% |
| * 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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