Arizona’s unemployment rate held steady in April, mirroring national trends, as gains in professional services, health care and government jobs helped offset continued losses in manufacturing and construction.
According to the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity, Arizona’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 4.7% in April, unchanged from March. The national u
nemployment r
ate also stayed flat at 4.3%.
Buckeye and Maricopa County continued to outperform both the state and national averages, posting a 3.7% unemployment rate in April, the same rate recorded in March.
Despite stable unemployment figures, Arizona’s labor force shrank during the month. From March to April, the state’s labor force declined by 23,504 people, or 0.6%. Compared with April 2025, the labor force was down by 32,148 individuals, a decrease of 0.8%.
Arizona employers added 16,300 nonfarm jobs on a non-seasonally adjusted basis between March and April, led by strong hiring in professional and business services, which gained 5,400 jobs. Health care and social assistance added 4,600 jobs, while government employment increased by 3,200 positions.
Leisure and hospitality employers added 2,800 jobs during the month, reflecting seasonal tourism and service industry demand. Smaller gains were reported in information services, trade, transportation and utilities, and other services.
However, some sectors continued to struggle. Manufacturing employment fell by 1,500 jobs in April, while construction shed 800 jobs. Private educational services recorded no job growth during the month.
Economists often view steady unemployment rates alongside labor force declines as a sign that some workers may be leaving the workforce or delaying job searches, even as employers continue hiring in select industries.
