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How jobs got away from our market; County loses top spot
Derek Jordan/Wick Communications
State and local government job losses accounted for most of the recent unemployment increase that lost Cochise County its spot as the Arizona county with the lowest jobless rate, according to a local economic expert.
"Countywide, we lost about 400 jobs from June through July," said Robert Carreira, director of the Cochise College Center for Economic Research. The majority of those jobs, about 250, were from government positions.
Those job losses brought the county's unemployment rate up from 8.0 percent to 8.3 percent, according to the Arizona Department of Commerce, allowing Coconino County to register the lowest jobless rate, 7.9 percent.
"Cochise and Coconino counties were tied with the lowest unemployment rate in February, March, April and June last year," Carreira said. "The last time Coconino County had a lower unemployment rate was December 2008, when Coconino's rate was 6.7 percent and the Cochise County rate was 6.9 percent."
Cochise County either had the lowest jobless rate or tied Coconino County for it since January 2009.
It will take "a solid turnaround in local tax revenues," as well as additional revenues from the state, before these government-level jobs return to the area, he said.
Apart from the government, the other sector suffering sizable job losses in the county last month was leisure and hospitality, which lost about 100 jobs, he said.
The only sector that saw an increase in jobs in July was the grouping of trade, transportation and utilities, which includes retail jobs. That area of the local economy gained about 50 jobs, he said.
As he has said before, Carreira is looking for the local economy to start to turn around in the fall, thanks, in part, to new retail stores and the holiday shopping season.
"The Wal-Mart Supercenter and other new businesses in that [Sierra Vista] plaza should open right before the holiday shopping season, so this will give a boost to sales and employment," he said. "I'd expect a couple hundred jobs as a result of the new Wal-Mart and other businesses."
Latest comments from Wal-Mart spokeswoman Delia Garcia place the estimated number of jobs to be created by the supercenter at about 140. The company is aiming for a grand opening in late October.
Carreira also predicts a potential increased draw of outside shoppers to the area once the supercenter and surrounding businesses open.
"Once these shoppers are in town, they are likely to spend money in other businesses, as well," he said.
State and local government job losses accounted for most of the recent unemployment increase that lost Cochise County its spot as the Arizona county with the lowest jobless rate, according to a local economic expert.
"Countywide, we lost about 400 jobs from June through July," said Robert Carreira, director of the Cochise College Center for Economic Research. The majority of those jobs, about 250, were from government positions.
Those job losses brought the county's unemployment rate up from 8.0 percent to 8.3 percent, according to the Arizona Department of Commerce, allowing Coconino County to register the lowest jobless rate, 7.9 percent.
"Cochise and Coconino counties were tied with the lowest unemployment rate in February, March, April and June last year," Carreira said. "The last time Coconino County had a lower unemployment rate was December 2008, when Coconino's rate was 6.7 percent and the Cochise County rate was 6.9 percent."
Cochise County either had the lowest jobless rate or tied Coconino County for it since January 2009.
It will take "a solid turnaround in local tax revenues," as well as additional revenues from the state, before these government-level jobs return to the area, he said.
Apart from the government, the other sector suffering sizable job losses in the county last month was leisure and hospitality, which lost about 100 jobs, he said.
The only sector that saw an increase in jobs in July was the grouping of trade, transportation and utilities, which includes retail jobs. That area of the local economy gained about 50 jobs, he said.
As he has said before, Carreira is looking for the local economy to start to turn around in the fall, thanks, in part, to new retail stores and the holiday shopping season.
"The Wal-Mart Supercenter and other new businesses in that [Sierra Vista] plaza should open right before the holiday shopping season, so this will give a boost to sales and employment," he said. "I'd expect a couple hundred jobs as a result of the new Wal-Mart and other businesses."
Latest comments from Wal-Mart spokeswoman Delia Garcia place the estimated number of jobs to be created by the supercenter at about 140. The company is aiming for a grand opening in late October.
Carreira also predicts a potential increased draw of outside shoppers to the area once the supercenter and surrounding businesses open.
"Once these shoppers are in town, they are likely to spend money in other businesses, as well," he said.
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| 400 jobs lost in Cochise County in month of July | What's Happening |
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