Construction jobs rose in both Nevada and Arizona in November, but New Mexico lost jobs in the sector, according to new information released by the three states.

 

Arizona led the way with 1,600 new construction jobs added in November. Nevada, meanwhile, added 600 jobs in the sector last month. While New Mexico’s overall employment numbers are in fact up year-over-year, it did not keep pace with the other Southwestern states and lost construction jobs in November.

 

Arizona
Arizona saw construction employment grow 1.2% month-over-month in November. Overall, Arizona has added 6,900 construction jobs since November 2014, good for a growth rate of 5.5%.

 

According to The Arizona Department of Administration, the state has a net gain of 29,800 nonfarm jobs, or 1.1% growth, since November of last year. That total is more than the 2010 to 2014 post-recessionary year-over-year average gain of 26,500 jobs.

 

The unemployment rate in Arizona dropped 0.1% in November to 6%. Last year at this time, Arizona reported a 6.6% unemployment rate.

 

Nevada
Nevada has added 30,900 jobs since November of last year, with 7,800 of those coming in the construction industry. Those 7,800 new construction jobs mark a 12.3% gain year over year. November marks the 59th consecutive month of year over year employment growth in Nevada, says Bill Anderson, chief economist for Nevada’s Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation.

 

While those figures are encouraging, the state lost 4,800 jobs month over month. That drop in overall employment did not affect construction, though, as employment in that sector saw an uptick of 600 jobs in November versus October.

 

For November 2015, Nevada’s unemployment rate fell to 6.5% from 7.1% in November 2014, marking the 57th consecutive month the rate has fallen. This is also the lowest unemployment rate Nevada has seen since 2008.

 

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval believes the state will only continue to do well explaining that, “Nevada (is making) great strides as our economic recovery sustains this positive momentum, but we know there is still work to be done to ensure all Nevadans have the opportunity to obtain employment.”

 

New Mexico

After showing strong gains in construction employment in October, New Mexico lost 100 construction jobs in November relative to last month. Year over year, the state has lost 200 jobs in the sector.

 

New Mexico reports that their total nonfarm payroll employment grew by 3,000 jobs, or 0.4%, since November 2014, marking the 39th consecutive month of over-the-year growth.

 

The unemployment rate in the state remains unchanged at 6.8% relative to October of this year. between October and November of this year. That is 0.7% higher than New Mexico’s unemployment rate in November 2014.