Labor market

• The number of nonfarm jobs in Cochise County was up by 200 (0.6%) in the 12 months ended November 2024, according to data from Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity. The private sector gained 100 jobs (0.4%) while the government sector grew by 100 jobs (0.9%). Within government, the state and local levels added a combined 100 jobs (1.6%) while countywide federal job numbers held steady.
• Within Cochise County’s private sector, goods-producing jobs were up by 200 (6.9%) over the year, all of which were in construction and mining (10.0%). Manufacturing job numbers were unchanged in the 12 months ended November 2024.
• Countywide private-sector, service-providing job numbers were down by 100 (-0.5%) from November 2023 to November 2024. Within private-sector services, the gain of 100 trade, transportation, and utilities jobs (1.5%) and 100 educational and health services jobs (2.0%) were more than offset by the loss of 200 professional and business services jobs (-5.3%) and 100 jobs in the information industry (-25.0%). Job numbers were unchanged in financial activities, leisure and hospitality, and other services in the 12 months ended November.
• In month-to-month comparisons, Cochise County added 200 jobs from October to November 2024, all of which were in trade, transportation, and utilities. All other private-sector industries (construction and mining; manufacturing; information; financial activities; professional and business services; educational and health services; leisure and hospitality; and other services), along with federal, state, and local governments, saw job numbers unchanged from October to November this year.

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

• Cochise County’s unadjusted unemployment rate in November 2024 was 4.4%, up from 4.2% in October this year but the same level as November a year ago.
• At the state level, Arizona’s unadjusted unemployment rate in November was 3.9%, up from 3.8% in both October this year and November last year. 
• The U.S. unadjusted unemployment rate in November was 4.0%, up from 3.9% in October 2024 and 3.5% in November 2023.

Cochise County city and town unemployment rates for November 2024 were:

• Benson, 5.1%, up from 4.8% in October 2024 but the same level as November 2023.
• Bisbee, 2.8%, up from 2.6% in October this year and unchanged from November last year.
• Douglas, 7.9%, up from 7.5% in October but the same as November a year ago.
• Huachuca City, 7.2%, up from 7.0% in October this year but the same level as November 2023.
• Sierra Vista, 3.9%, up from 3.8% in both October this year and November a year ago.
• Tombstone, 1.8%, the same as October this year and November last year.
• Willcox, 11.2%, up from 10.8% in October 2024 but unchanged from November 2023.

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