As the state's unemployment rate increased and more jobs were lost on a monthly and yearly basis, Arizona construction jobs took the biggest hit over the year.

During December 2009, Arizona's unemployment rate increased from 8.9 percent to 9.1 percent, following a decrease from 9.3 percent during November. Despite the increase, the state's unemployment rate is still lower than the national rate of 10 percent.

Arizona had a total non-farm employment of 2,412,000 workers during December, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is down from 2,417,500 workers during November and a 4.8 percent decrease from December 2008.

Three industries saw a monthly increase in employment, including: mining and logging by 100 jobs; financial activities by 400 jobs; and education and health services by 2,000 jobs.

Employment in the trade, transportation and utilities industry and the other services industry remained even over the month with 471,000 jobs and 91,400 jobs, respectively.

The education and health services industry was the only one that added jobs on a yearly basis. The industry employed 326,200 workers during December, up from 324,200 workers during November and a 1.4 percent increase from the previous year.

The construction industry took the biggest hit when compared to the previous year. The industry employed 132,000 workers during December, down from 133,900 workers during November and a 19 percent decrease from December 2008.

Other industries that saw an over-the-year decrease in employment include:

• mining and logging by 14.5 percent
• manufacturing by 6.6 percent
• trade, transportation and utilities by 4.6 percent
• information by 5.2 percent
• financial activities by 4.1 percent
• professional and business services by 5.1 percent
• leisure and hospitality by 1.7 percent
• other services by 7.3 percent
• government by 4.7 percent

Labels: Arizona construction jobs