TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — Arizona has recovered more than 100% of private-sector jobs in the wake of the initial economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a news release from Gov. Doug Ducey's office. The state now boasts the third-fastest job recovery in the country.
Ducey says he knows the last year has been tough for Arizonans but wants to thank them for their perseverance.
“The last year and a half have challenged Arizonans like never before,” Ducey said in a news release. “But thanks to the ingenuity and perseverance of our hard-working employees and business community, Arizona’s recovery is in full swing, with a real momentum headed in the right direction. This isn’t the case for every state, and we will continue to work hard to make sure Arizonans have ample opportunity to reenter the workforce, access new skills, and get back to work.”
According to a study by The Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity, Arizona has recovered 101% of private-sector jobs -- 325,500 of them -- since April 2020. In comparison, the United States has only recovered 79% of private-sector jobs, the study said.
Arizona's current unemployment rate is 6.2%, while the national unemployment rate sits at 5.2%. The state unemployment rate is far better than the 14% at the beginning of the pandemic, but hasn't fully recovered to the 5.2% in March 2020.
The number of Arizonans either working or looking for work surpassed the pre-pandemic height in March 2021, and has continued to increase every month since.
