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- calendar_today November 2, 2026
Recent official data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals a complex landscape of employment and wage trends across Arizona’s counties over the past year. In the first quarter of 2026, changes varied significantly between the state’s largest population centers and its smaller counties, reflecting both local economic challenges and broader state trends.
Statewide, Arizona experienced a 0.6 percent decline in employment from March 2025 to March 2026, reaching nearly 3,249,100 employed individuals. The three largest counties—Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal—made up 85 percent of the state’s total covered employment. Employment dropped by 1.7 percent in Pima County and 0.5 percent in Maricopa County, the latter of which still posted the highest employment figure at approximately 2.3 million. In contrast, Pinal County saw a 0.7 percent uptick in employment, highlighting localized jobs growth in certain areas despite the statewide decline.
On the wage front, Arizona’s average weekly wages rose by 4.5 percent over the year, standing at $1,495 in the first quarter of 2026. This rate placed Arizona 21st nationally in wage levels and 10th in wage growth. Among the large counties, Pima reported the strongest wage increase at 8.2 percent, outpacing both Maricopa (3.8 percent) and Pinal (3.2 percent). However, all three counties’ average weekly wages remained below the national average of $1,654—Maricopa led at $1,570, followed by Pima at $1,332 and Pinal at $1,204.
Arizona’s smaller counties, while not providing year-over-year wage change data, displayed wide disparities in wage levels. Greenlee County recorded the state’s highest average weekly wage at $2,151, while La Paz County had the lowest at $957. Most of these smaller counties reported wages below the national average, illustrating ongoing wage challenges outside the state’s primary economic engines.
Overall, the data signals a mixed economic picture across Arizona, with improvements in wages in many areas even as employment numbers declined in the population centers. The varied performance of individual counties underscores the importance for local leaders and businesses to closely monitor regional employment and wage developments as they plan for growth or recovery.
All analyses are based solely on data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics release for County Employment and Wages in Arizona, First Quarter 2026.
