Arizona May Unemployment Rate Jumps To 8.2%

June 18, 2009 -- (Phoenix, AZ) – Arizona’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased five-tenths of a percentage point to 8.2 percent in May from 7.7 percent in April. Arizona remains below the national average which also rose by five-tenths of a percentage point from 8.9 percent to 9.4 percent.

Arizona’s economy had a loss of 21,300 nonfarm jobs in May. After a slight moderation in the over-the year losses in April, the rate of loss increased from 6.6 percent in April to 7.1 percent in May.

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Goods producing industries posted an over-the-month loss of 2,200 jobs, while the service-providing industries lost 19,100 jobs in May. Over-the-year, goods-producing industries have lost 66,100 jobs, or 17.3 percent, while service-providing industries were down 122,300 positions, or 5.4 percent. Both the private sector and government lost jobs over-the-month, 15,800 and 5,500, respectively. Over-the-year, private sector employment was down 184,800 (8.4 percent) and government employment was off 3,600 (0.8 percent).

Since the beginning of the national recession in December 2007, Arizona’s nonfarm employment levels have decreased by a total of 253,700 with 21,300 coming in the month of May.
Nine of 11 major industries incurred job losses - one industry, information, gained jobs while natural resources and mining was flat. Since May 2008, all of the eleven major industries now show losses.

For detailed information, graphs and charts on Arizona data, please visit www.workforce.az.gov.

Source: Arizona Commerce Dept.