Labor market

• In April 2026, Cochise County's Total Nonfarm employment was 33,500, a decrease of 3.2% compared to April 2025 (34,600). Over the first four months of 2026, employment in this category has gradually increased from 33,000 in January to 33,500 in April, but remains below the same period in 2025, when January started at 34,800 and peaked at 35,100 in March.
• For Total Private employment, Cochise County recorded 23,400 jobs in April 2026, down 2.1% from 23,900 in April 2025. From January to April 2026, private employment rose from 22,900 to 23,400, but this is still lower than the January-April 2025 range of 24,000 to 24,400.
• The Service-Providing sector in Cochise County was 30,800 in April 2026, a decline of 3.4% from 31,900 in April 2025. Goods Producing jobs remained steady at 2,700 in both April 2026 and April 2025 (0.0% change).
• Within services, Trade, Transportation, and Utilities in Cochise County increased to 6,600 in April 2026, up 3.1% from 6,400 in April 2025. Information jobs dropped sharply to 700 in April 2026, a decline of 36.4% from 1,100 in April 2025. Financial Activities held steady at 1,000 in both April 2026 and April 2025 (0.0%). Professional and Business Services was 3,500 in April 2026, down 5.4% from 3,700 in April 2025. Private Education and Health Services remained unchanged at 4,700 in both periods (0.0%). Leisure and Hospitality was 3,400 in April 2026, a decrease of 5.6% from 3,600 in April 2025.
• On the public side, Cochise County's Government employment totaled 10,100 in April 2026, down 5.6% from 10,700 in April 2025. Federal Government jobs were 3,800 in April 2026, a decrease of 11.6% from 4,300 in April 2025, while State and Local Government was 6,300 in April 2026, down 1.6% from 6,400 in April 2025.
• Overall, the data for January through April 2026 in Cochise County show broad year-over-year declines in most sectors compared to the same months in 2025, with the exception of Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, which saw modest growth. The largest declines in Cochise County during this period were in Information, Federal Government, Professional and Business Services, and Leisure and Hospitality, while Goods Producing, Financial Activities, and Private Education and Health Services remained stable.

 See spreadsheets, below, for monthly and annual Cochise County nonfarm job numbers by industry/sector. 

• Cochise County's unemployment rate stands at 5.8% through the first four months of 2026, well above Arizona's 4.6% and the national average of approximately 4.3%. The state's monthly figures show improvement within 2026—dropping from 4.8% in January to 4.3% by April—but the broader trend since 2024 points upward for both the county and state.
• Among Cochise County municipalities, Willcox posts the highest unemployment at 10.4%, followed by Huachuca City at 9.8% and Douglas at 9.0%. Bisbee reports 8.0% and Benson 7.1%, both above the county average. Sierra Vista fares better at 5.7%, supported by Fort Huachuca's steady employment base. Tombstone maintains the lowest rate at 0.4%, reflecting its tourism-driven economy.
• After reaching their lowest points in 2024, unemployment rates have risen for two consecutive years across the region. Cochise County climbed 1.4 percentage points from 4.4% in 2024 to 5.8% year-to-date in 2026. Arizona followed a similar path, rising from 3.7% to 4.6%. Every city and town experienced increases, with Willcox jumping 2.5 points and Huachuca City climbing 2.4 points since 2024.
• The 2020 pandemic drove unemployment to 7.2% in Cochise County and 7.8% statewide. Recovery was steady through 2024—Douglas dropped from 11.2% to 6.8%, Benson fell from 8.8% to 5.3%, and Willcox improved from 12.9% to 7.9%. Those gains have now partially reversed.
• Cochise County consistently runs above Arizona's average. From 2020 through 2025, the county averaged 5.3% unemployment compared to the state's 4.7%. The gap narrowed to 0.7 points in 2024 but has widened to 1.2 points in 2026. Military spending anchors Sierra Vista, tourism supports Tombstone, while agricultural and border communities face continued pressure. Current levels remain below pandemic highs, but the two-year upward trend warrants monitoring.

See spreadsheets, below, for monthly and annual Cochise County, city, and town labor market data (civilian labor force, employment, unemployment & unemployment rate).