Even though the city's unemployment rate declined and more jobs were added on a monthly basis, only Tucson medical jobs and education jobs increased from November 2008 to November 2009.
During November 2009, Tucson's unemployment rate decreased from 8.4 percent to 7.8 percent, following an increase from 8.3 percent during October. This places the city below the national unemployment rate of 10 percent.
Tucson had a total non-farm employment of 364,700 workers during November, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is up from 361,600 workers during October, but a 3.8 percent decrease from November 2008.
Five industries saw a monthly increase in employment, including: financial activities by 100 jobs; professional and business services by 700 jobs; education and health services by 400 jobs; leisure and hospitality by 400 jobs; and government by 500 jobs.
Employment in the mining and logging, manufacturing, information and other services industries remained even at 1,400 workers, 26,300 workers, 4,100 workers and 15,600 workers, respectively.
The education and health services industry was the only industry that managed to see a monthly increase in employment. The industry employed 59,800 workers during November, up from 59,400 workers during October and a 2 percent increase from November 2008.
The mining and logging industry took the biggest hit over the year, seeing a 22. percent decrease in employment.
Other industries that saw an over-the-year decrease in employment include:
- construction by 20.4 percent
- manufacturing by 3 percent
- trade, transportation and utilities by 5.5 percent
- information by 12.8 percent
- financial activities by 2.9 percent
- professional and business services by 4.5 percent
- leisure and hospitality by 3.1 percent
- other services by 5.2 percent
- government by 2 percent
