Mining jobs to increase; 2-year loss of 47,000 jobs elsewhere

The Arizona Dept. of Commerce released their semi-annual jobs forecast today. They expect an overall lose of 47,000 jobs statewide over the next two years, with 34,000 of those to occur in 2008.

Two sectors are expected to do very well this year and next. Health and private education should gain about 4.7 percent in jobs this year and 3.2 percent next year. Natural-resources and mining jobs are expected to grow by 9 percent this year and 4.5 percent next year. However, an accompanying table shows different numbers (below).

Arizona Industry Employment Average Annual Growth Rate
(a) Historical (b) Forecast
	2007(a)	2008(b)	2009(b)
Total Nonfarm	1.2%;	-1.3%	-0.5%
Manufacturing	-2.2%	-2.3%	-1.0%
Natural Resources/ Mining	14.1%	14.0%	7.1%
Construction	-6.6%	-14.0%	-6.8%
Trade, Trans., & Utilities	2.4%	-0.9%	-0.4%
Information	-3.2%	-2.5%	-0.9%
Financial Activities	0.4%	-4.1%	-1.7%
Professional & Business Services	1.9%	-1.2%	-0.7%
Education & Health Services	4.1%	3.5%	2.5%
Leisure & Hospitality	2.2%	0.7%	0.3%
Other Services	-1.2%	-1.2%	-0.5%
Government	3.5%	1.7%	0.1%