AZ estimated 6.6% jobless rate in July remains above pre-pandemic levels, but significantly LESS than the pandemic high of 14.2%. Unemployment rates may not be improving as quickly is partly due to the increased number of workers in the labor market, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
As stated by Inforgram:
Arizona’s jobless rate has settled down from last spring’s pandemic-driven highs, but it has not returned to pre-pandemic levels. One reason is that there are more workers than ever in the state’s labor force, which analysts see as a positive sign even though it can hold back unemployment rate improvements.