Labor Market

Nonfarm jobs (payroll employment)

The number of nonfarm jobs in Cochise County was up by 700 in the 12 months ended January 2023, for job growth of 2.1%, according to data from Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity. The countywide private sector added 900 jobs (4.0%) while the government sector dropped 200 jobs (-1.9%). Within government, all the job losses were at the state and local levels (-3.4%) while federal job numbers were unchanged.
In Cochise County’s private sector, goods-producing jobs were up by 100 (3.8%) in the 12 months ended January, all of which were in construction and mining (5.3%). Manufacturing job numbers held steady in the 12 months ended January.
Countywide private-sector, service-providing jobs were up by 800 (4.0%) from January 2022 to January 2023, with the gain of 500 jobs (12.5%) in professional and business services; 400 jobs (6.6%) in trade, transportation, and utilities; and 200 jobs (66.7%) in information. These were partly offset by the loss of 200 jobs (-5.4%) in leisure and hospitality and 100 jobs (-2.3%) in educational and health services. Job numbers held steady in financial activities and other services in the 12 months ended January.

Nonfarm Payroll Employment (2001-current) (pdf)

Nonfarm Payroll Employment (2001-current) (xlsx)

Cochise County’s unadjusted unemployment rate in January 2023 was 4.0%, up from 3.6% in December and 3.8% in January 2022.
At the state level, Arizona’s unadjusted unemployment rate in January was 3.3%, unchanged from December but down from 3.8% in January a year prior.
The U.S. unadjusted unemployment rate in January was 3.9%, up from 3.3% in December but down from 4.4% in January 2022.

Cochise County municipality-level unemployment rates for January 2023 were:

Benson, 3.9%, up from 2.2% in December 2022, and 2.3% in January 2022.
Bisbee, 2.8%, up from 1.5% in December and 1.7% in January a year prior.
Douglas, 7.8%, up from 7.2% in December and 7.7% in January a year ago.
Huachuca City, 5.9%, unchanged from December but down from 6.4% in January 2022.
Sierra Vista, 3.4%, up from 2.9% in December and 3.0% in January a year prior.
Tombstone, 1.7%, down from 3.2% in December and 3.4% in January a year ago.
Willcox, 6.7%, up from 3.8% December 2022, and 4.1% in January 2022.

Labor Force, Employment & Unemployment (2000-current) (pdf)

Labor Force, Employment & Unemployment (2000-current) (xlsx)