Graham County economic data, statistics & info

UNEMPLOYMENT

The annual unemployment rate in Graham County in 2023 was 3.7%, up from 3.5% in 2022. City and town annual unemployment rates in 2023 were:

• Pima: 1.1% (up from 1.0% in 2022)
• Safford: 3.2% (up from 3.1% in 2022)
• Thatcher: 3.4% (up from 3.3% in 2022)

See spreadsheets, below, for the most recent monthly Graham County, city, and town labor force, employment, and unemployment data.

NONFARM PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT

The number of nonfarm jobs in Graham County was up by 275 in 2024 for job growth of 2.6%, according to data from Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity (based on average monthly job numbers). All the gains were in the private sector (275 jobs, 3.7%) while the number of government jobs was unchanged from 2023 to 2024. See spreadsheets, below, for the most recent monthly Graham County nonfarm payroll employment by industry/sector.

WAGES

The average annual wage in Graham County in 2023 was $55,021 ($26.45 hourly), which was 87.3% of the Arizona statewide average wage of $63,040 ($30.31 hourly) and 84.0% of the national average wage of $65,470 ($31.48 hourly). Graham County's average annual wage was up 8.9% from 2022 to 2023, compared to wage growth of 7.5% statewide and 5.8% nationally. See spreadsheets, below, for the most recent Graham County employment and wages (average hourly and annual, by occupation).

MAJOR INDUSTRY SALES 

• In 2024, Graham County's retail sales were up 3.6%, following growth of 14.0% in 2022 and 11.6% in 2023.
• Restaurant & bar sales in Graham County were up 5.3% in 2024, after increasing 5.3% in 2022 and 11.4% in 2023. 
• Hotel/motel receipts in Graham and Greenlee counties combined were up 12.4% in 2024, following gains of 18.9% in 2021, 37.6% in 2022, and 9.1% in 2023 (strong growth in recent years reflects a rebound from a COVID-related drop of 25.1% in 2020, the first year of the pandemic).
• Sales across retail, restaurant/bar, and lodging were at record highs in 2023. Growth rates are not adjusted for inflation; annual sales are based on tax processing month, not sales month.

GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT

• In 2023, Graham County produced $1.7 billion in current-dollar total Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This GDP ranked 14th in the state (of Arizona's 15 counties) and accounted for 0.3% of the state total. From 2022 to 2023, Graham County real GDP fell 2.2%; for all Arizona, real GDP grew 3.0%. 
• Back in 2013, the total GDP of Graham County was $730.3 million and ranked 14th in the state. The 2013–2023 compound annual growth rate for Graham County real GDP was 4.5%; the compound annual growth rate for the state was 3.5%.

PERSONAL INCOME

• In 2023, Graham County had a per capita personal income (PCPI) of $42,787. This PCPI ranked 15th in the state and was 68.4% of the state average, $62,543, and 61.3% of the national average, $69,810. The 2023 PCPI reflected an increase of 2.9% from 2022. The 2022–2023 state change was 6.1% and the national change was 5.4%. 
• In 2013, the PCPI of Graham County was $27,066 and ranked 14th in the state. The 2013–2023 compound annual growth rate of PCPI was 4.7%. The compound annual growth rate for the state was 5.4% and for the nation was 4.6%.

For more info on Graham County's personal income and GDP, check out the county's BEA Regional Fact Sheet (BEARFACTS)

BANK DEPOSITS

In 2024, bank deposits in Graham County (as of June 30) were up 1.8% from the year prior, after increasing 0.1% in 2023, 10.3% in 2022, 3.4% in 2021, and 43.7% in 2020. The 2020 jump was the fastest rate of increase since 2006 and was helped along by economic stimulus payments and other COVID programs that year.

BANKRUPTCY FILINGS

In 2024, there were 23 bankruptcy filings in Graham County, down from 28 the year prior. Filings peaked at 62 in 2018 before falling steeply from 2019 through 2021, helped along by COVID programs in 2020 and 2021 including mortgage relief, eviction moratoriums, penalty-free early retirement withdrawals, student loan deferrals, and tax credits. Filings then increased in 2022 and 2023 but remained below the 33 filings in 2019, the year prior to the pandemic. Bankruptcy filings in 2024 were the lowest since 2021 and the second lowest since 2018.