Employment Growth by Industry

How are we doing?    

Growth Rate of Total NonFarm Employment (2017)

In 2017 the growth rate in total nonfarm employment for the Tucson Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) was 1.5%. In comparison to the 12 western MSAs, Tucson ranked 10th, just below the U.S. and ahead of Albuquerque and El Paso. Austin posted a 3.2% increase in employment from 2016 to 2017, the only MSA of the comparison region to have employment gains above 3.0%. Tucson posted slow but positive employment growth since the Great Recession. The Great Recession hit Tucson hard, with job losses totaling 8.8%. To view the preliminary monthly job data for Tucson, visit the award-winning Arizona’s Economy online magazine or download the free Arizona’s Economy smartphone app.

Why is it important?


How do we compare?

Tucson posted a 1.5% increase in employment from 2016 to 2017 while employment in the state of Arizona increased by 2.4% during the same period. Both Arizona and the nation posted employment growth rates that were higher than Tucson’s. In 2017, all of the western states had employment growth rates that surpassed the U.S. rate of 1.6%, with the exception of New Mexico. Idaho lead the western states with an increase in employment of 3.3%, while Arizona ranked fifth out of the 10 comparison states. 

What are the key trends?

Total employment growth in the Tucson MSA has been slow to rebound since the Great Recession. Tucson’s job growth averaged 0.9% per year from 2011 to 2017, below its average rate of 1.2% per year during the 2000 to 2008 period. Arizona and the U.S. posted stronger job growth than Tucson since the end of the Great Recession, averaging 2.2% per year and 1.7% per year, respectively. Peak to trough during the Great Recession, Tucson posted a job loss of 8.8%, while Arizona and the U.S. lost 12.6% and 6.1% of jobs, respectively. Tucson and Arizona were both hit harder than the nation in job losses during the Great Recession. 

How is it measured?
