Number of Arizona jobs expected to increase by 150K over next two years
Mar 16, 2018, 4:55 AM
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PHOENIX — The job outlook in Arizona was trending upward.
The Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity projected that the state would add more than 150,000 new jobs over a two-year period.
The department released its annual short term economic outlook in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Labor on Thursday.
The outlook showed that jobs in the state will increase from 2,933,968 to 3,086,936 — a growth of 152,968 jobs — over the two-year period from the third quarter of fiscal year 2017 to the second quarter of fiscal year 2019.
It also found that Arizona jobs will continue to grow at an annual rate of 2.6 percent.
The department that was expected to add the largest number of jobs was in educational and health services, with an addition of 39,779 jobs or a 3.3 percent growth annually.
Professional and business services (22,391 jobs), leisure and hospitality (19,547 jobs), construction (15,554 jobs) and trade, transportation and utilities (15,312 jobs) were the other sectors with the largest expected gains, the outlook found.
The state has already added more than 160,000 private sector jobs since 2015.
In a statement, Gov. Doug Ducey pointed to the outlook as another factor in Arizona’s economic growth.
“Arizona’s economy continues to thrive thanks to the hard work of entrepreneurs and innovators throughout our state,” Ducey said.
“We are focused on making Arizona the best place in the country to launch a new idea, re-locate, or expand a business, and I am excited to see the the continued positive developments to come.”