Library

Job growth in the Tucson MSA hit a much higher gear during the past year (Exhibit 1). In fact, preliminary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests that Tucson’s over-the-year job growth hit 14,900 in July, which translates...

Tourism is a key part of the Tucson economy. One dimension of that industry is activity in arts, entertainment, and recreation. Tucson tied Colorado Springs for 9th out of the 12 western metropolitan areas tracked on the Dashboard in per...

Tucson’s patent rate rose by 126% during the past 16 years, far surpassing the U.S. and the state of Arizona. The Tucson Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) ranked 4th out of 12 comparable western MSAs with 17.4 patents per 10,000 workers...

The strong connection between educational attainment and earning potential has long been noted. The general rule is that more education leads to more income. Like a firm investing in better technology to increase productivity in the future, an individual’s investment...

In 2014, the Tucson Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) ranked ninth out of 12 comparable western MSAs in the labor force participation rate for the working age population (25-54). The labor force participation rate of 80.0% in 2014 was a 2.4...

In 2015, the Tucson Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) ranked second out of 12 comparable western MSAs in air quality. Tucson’s daily air quality was rated “good” 78.6% of the time. Phoenix was last among the 12 western metropolitan areas, with...

Hispanic business owners play a vital, and increasing, role in the economy of the western U.S., specifically in Border States such as Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and California. The pattern in Arizona reflects the prominence of Hispanic-owned businesses in the...

Job growth is a key measure of a local economy’s overall performance. Increasing employment tends to drive reduced unemployment and higher income growth. It can also lead to improved prosperity, particularly when the new jobs pay above average wages. In...