A project of Southeast Arizona Economic Development Group (SAEDG) in partnership with Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative (SSVEC) and community sponsors
Pima County's population as of Census 2020 was 1,043,433, up 6.4% from 2010. Pima County's population is expected to reach 1,129,414 in 2030 and 1,305,212 in 2060, according to projections by Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
See spreadsheets for county, city, town & place data.
UNEMPLOYMENT: The annual unemployment rate in Pima County in 2022 was 3.8%, down from 5.1% in 2021 and 7.6% in 2020, the first year of the COVID pandemic. Municipality unemployment rates in 2022 were:
NONFARM PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT: The number of nonfarm jobs in Pima County was up by 12,200 in 2022, for job growth of 3.2% (based on average monthly job numbers). The private sector added 10,500 jobs (3.4%) while government added 1,800 jobs (2.4%).
WAGES: The average annual wage in Pima County in 2022 was $56,206 ($27.02 hourly), which was 95.9% of the Arizona statewide average wage of $58,620 ($28.18 hourly) and 90.8% of the national average wage of $61,900 ($29.76 hourly). Pima County's average wage in 2022 was up 6.1% from 2021.
PERSONAL INCOME: In 2021, Pima County had a per capita personal income (PCPI) of $52,942. This PCPI ranked 3rd in the state and was 95.4% of the state average, $55,487, and 82.5% of the national average, $64,143. The 2021 PCPI reflected an increase of 5.6% from 2020. The 2020–2021 state change was 6% and the national change was 7.3%. In 2011, the PCPI of Pima County was $35,373 and ranked 3rd in the state. The 2011–2021 compound annual growth rate of PCPI was 4.1%. The compound annual growth rate for the state was 4.6% and for the nation was 4.1%.
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT: In 2021, Pima County produced 50,231,611 in current-dollar total GDP*. This GDP ranked 2nd in the state and accounted for 12.0% of the state total. In 2011, the total GDP of Pima County was 35,151,950 and ranked 2nd in the state.
In 2021, Pima County real GDP grew 4.3%; the 2020–2021 state change was 6.3%. The 2011–2021 compound annual growth rate for Pima County real GDP was 1.5%; the compound annual growth rate for the state was 2.7%.
*GDP estimates are in thousands of dollars.
For more info on Pima County's personal income and GDP, check out the county's BEA Regional Fact Sheet (BEARFACTS)
In 2022, Pima County's retail sales were up 5.9%, following growth of 16.6% in 2021. Restaurant & bar sales were up 15.9% in 2022, on the heels of a 23.8% increase in 2021 (following a COVID-related drop of 14.3% in 2020, the first year of the pandemic). Pima County's hotel/motel receipts were up 37.6% in 2022, after rebounding 35.3% in 2021 (from a COVID-related decline of 33.0% in 2020).
HOME PRICES & DAYS ON MARKET: In May 2023, the median price of homes sold in Pima County was $370,000, according to National Association of Realtors. That was up 3.0% from May 2022. The median days on market in May was 35, up from 26 in May 2022. As of June 2023, there were 5,159 homes listed for sale in Pima County, down 13.4% from 5,956 in December. (Data in this section updated twice annually; for the most recent monthly data, visit Pima County, AZ Real Estate Market).
NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION: In 2022, there were 3,735 building permits issued for new single-family residential homes in Pima County, down 27.0% from 2021 (new single-family home permits in 2021 were at their highest level since 2006). The annual average SFR permit value in 2022 was $331,823, up 7.6% from 2021. (For the most recent monthly data, click here.)
TOURISM VISITOR COUNTS: In 2022, visits to Catalina State Park in Pima County were down 0.3%. Annual visits were up 6.1% in 2021, after falling 3.1% in 2020, the first year of the COVID pandemic. Visits to Saguaro National Park were down 15.9% in 2022. Annual visits were up 41.7% in 2021, following a COVID-related decline of 25.3% in 2020. In 2022, visits to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument fell by 30.1%, following a 0.3% decline in 2021 and a 27.2% drop in 2020, the first year of the pandemic.
TRAVEL IMPACTS: According to research by Dean Runyan Associates for Arizona Office of Tourism, Pima County's travel industry (including business and leisure travel) generated $3.3 billion in direct spending countywide in 2022, up 17.5% from 2021 (the year 2021 saw a 73.2% increase, rebounding from a 49.2% COVID-related drop in 2020, the first year of the pandemic). Travel-related direct spending in 2022 was at a record high (with records back to 1998, not adjusted for inflation). Pima County's travel industry supported 21,700 jobs countywide in 2022 (up 7.7% from the year prior) with household earnings of $812.0 million (up 14.4% from 2021), according to the study.
BORDER CROSSINGS: In 2022, pedestrian border crossings from Mexico into the US at the Lukeville port of entry in Pima County more than doubled from the year prior, up 102.2% after increasing 68.1% in 2021. This was after falling 59.4% in 2020 due to COVID travel restrictions. After a strong rebound, pedestrian crossings in 2022 were at their highest level since 2009 (after setting a record low in 2020, with records back to 1996). The number of vehicle passengers crossing into the US at Lukeville was up 18.2% in 2022, on the heels of a 55.4% jump in 2021. The rebound came after a 52.3% decline in 2020 (setting a new record low that year). Despite the rebound, personal vehicle crossings in Lukeville in 2022 remained below pre-COVID levels. At the much smaller Sasabe port of entry, also in Pima County, pedestrian crossings in 2022 were down 7.2% after jumping 77.7% in 2021 and 6.5% in 2020 (despite the COVID pandemic). Vehicle passenger numbers through Sasabe were up 3.8% in 2022 after increasing 21.7% in 2021 (following a 26.5% COVID-related drop in 2020, the first year of the pandemic). (See downloadable spreadsheets below for current and historical border crossing data for bus passengers, buses, pedestrians, personal vehicle passengers, personal vehicles, truck containers [empty and loaded], and trucks at the Lukeville and Sasabe ports of entry.)
INTERNATIONAL TRADE: In 2022, the value of international trade (imports and exports) passing through Pima County's Lukeville and Sasabe ports of entry totaled $8.2 million, up 26.5% from 2021. Exports totaled $5.1 million, up 42.4%, while imports came in at $3.1 million, up 7.1%.
BANK DEPOSITS: In 2022, bank deposits in Pima County (as of June 30) were up 11.7% from 2021. The year 2022 was the third straight year of double-digit percent increases in deposits with growth of 20.0% in 2020 and 10.0% in 2021, respectively. The 20% jump in deposits in 2020 was the fastest rate of increase on record (with records back to 1994). Deposits in recent years were helped along by economic stimulus payments and other COVID programs.
BANKRUPTCY FILINGS: In 2022, there were 1,331 bankruptcy filings in Pima County, down 4.7% from 2021. Filings fell steeply in 2020 and 2021, helped along by COVID programs, including mortgage relief and the eviction moratorium. Bankruptcy filings in Pima County peaked at 2,481 in 2019, the year before the start of the pandemic.
A project of Southeast Arizona Economic Development Group (SAEDG) in partnership with Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative (SSVEC) and community sponsors
SAEDG is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit corporation and an Arizona State Data Center Affiliate
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