Unemployment in Maricopa jumps one percent

Maricopa’s December unemployment rate jumped one percent, from 8.8 percent in November to 9.8 percent.

In 2008 that one percent marks the second highest unemployment increase for the city. The highest jump came between May and June when the rate spiked 1.4 percent.

Maricopa wasn’t the only place in Arizona to see an increase. Overall, Pinal County’s unemployment rate spiked from 7.8 percent to 8.8 percent, and Maricopa County’s rate went from 5.4 percent to 6 percent. Arizona as a whole went from 6.2 percent to 6.7 percent.

The city finished 2008 with an average unemployment rate of 7.4 percent compared to the 5.1 percent state average.

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