Arizona’s economy appears to be gaining momentum, the best gift of all for the people of our state this holiday season. Arizona Governor Jan Brewer says she is pleased to see Arizona’s unemployment rate fall to 7.8%, after the best November job gain since 2005.
“There are so many reasons for optimism in the latest jobs report issued today by the Arizona Department of Administration. In November, the Arizona unemployment rate fell to its lowest level in four years as we added 22,700 nonfarm jobs. This is the largest November tally since 2005. Arizona’s jobless rate has now fallen 3.4 percentage points from its peak in January 2010. Just as encouraging, job growth has been broad-based and steady throughout 2012 – with Arizona adding nearly 60,000 jobs since January and seeing growth across nine of our state’s 11 employment sectors.
“Most impressive of all, better than 1 in every 7 jobs created nationwide last month was generated right here in the Grand Canyon State. This is great news Arizona can build upon as we enter the new year.
“This doesn’t mean our work is over. Joblessness remains a struggle for too many of our friends and neighbors. As we move into 2013, I pledge to work with the Arizona Legislature in continued pursuit of the policies that have driven our economic recovery and which remain key to Arizona’s long-term prosperity: lean regulations, a competitive tax code and effective classrooms.”