In 2018, the Tucson metropolitan area added over 4,000 jobs, which translated into 1.2 percent growth. That moved Tucson to 11th place among peer western metropolitan areas, a decline from 10th in 2017 but better than its last place ranking during 2016 and 2015. Tucson had solid job gains in natural resources and mining; construction; manufacturing; and the information industry. Natural resources and mining jobs increased by 14.1 percent, while construction jobs increased by 6.0 percent. Manufacturing and information related job growth were both over three percent. The only industry to post job losses during 2018 was trade, transportation, and utilities. 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.
