Labor market

• The number of nonfarm jobs in Cochise County was up by 400 (1.1%) in the 12 months ended December 2024, according to data from Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity. The private sector gained 200 jobs (0.8%) while government also grew by 200 jobs (1.8%). Within government, federal jobs countywide increased by 100 (2.2%) while state and local levels added a combined 100 jobs (1.6%).
• Within Cochise County’s private sector, goods-producing jobs were up by 100 (3.4%) over the year, all of which were in construction and mining (5.0%). Manufacturing job numbers were unchanged in the 12 months ended December 2024.
• Countywide private-sector, service-providing job numbers were up by 100 (0.5%) from December 2023 to December 2024. Within private-sector services, gains of 200 educational and health services jobs (4.2%) and 100 leisure and hospitality jobs (2.4%) were partly offset by the loss of 200 professional and business services jobs (-5.3%). Job numbers were unchanged in trade, transportation, and utilities; information; financial activities; and other services in the 12 months ended December.  
• In month-to-month comparisons, Cochise County added 300 jobs from November to December 2024, with 100 new jobs in trade, transportation, and utilities, 100 in information, and 100 in leisure and hospitality. All other private-sector industries (construction and mining; manufacturing; financial activities; professional and business services; educational and health services; and other services) saw job numbers hold steady over the month. In government, the addition of 100 federal jobs was offset by the loss of 100 state and local government jobs from November to December.

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

• Cochise County’s unadjusted unemployment rate in December 2024 was 4.1%, down from 4.4% in November 2024 and 4.3% in December a year ago.
• At the state level, Arizona’s unadjusted unemployment rate in December was 3.5%, down from 3.9% in November 2024 and 3.8% in December 2023. 
• The U.S. unadjusted unemployment rate in December was 3.8%, down from 4.0% in November 2024 but up from 3.5% in December 2023.

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

• Benson, 4.8%, down from 5.1% in November 2024 and 5.0% in December 2023.
• Bisbee, 2.6%, down from 2.8% in November 2024 and 2.7% in December 2023.
• Douglas, 7.4%, down from 7.8% in November and 7.7% in December a year ago.
• Huachuca City, 6.9%, down from 7.2% in November 2024 and 7.1% in December 2023.
• Sierra Vista, 3.4%, down from 3.9% in November 2024 and 3.7% in December a year ago.
• Tombstone, 1.8%, the same as both November 2024 and December 2023.
• Willcox, 10.6%, down from 11.2% in November 2024 and 11.1% in December 2023.

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