Santa Cruz County economic data, statistics & info

UNEMPLOYMENT: The annual unemployment rate in Santa Cruz County in 2022 was 7.5%, down from 8.8% in 2021 and 11.3% in 2020, the first year of the COVID pandemic. Nogales' annual unemployment rate in 2022 was 10.1% (down from 11.8% in 2021 and 15.1% in 2020).

NONFARM PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT: The number of nonfarm jobs in Santa Cruz County was up by 175 in 2022, for job growth of 1.4% (based on average monthly job numbers). The private sector added 125 jobs (1.4%) while government added 50 jobs (1.4%). 

WAGES: The average annual wage in Santa Cruz County in 2022 was $52,388 ($25.19 hourly), which was 89.4% of the Arizona statewide average wage of $58,620 ($28.18 hourly) and 84.6% of the national average wage of $61,900 ($29.76 hourly). Santa Cruz County's average wage in 2022 was up 7.3% from 2021. 

In 2022, Santa Cruz County's retail sales were up 21.6% following growth of 14.6% in 2021 (after a COVID-related decline of 7.6% in 2020, the first year of the pandemic). Restaurant & bar sales were up 25.4% in 2022, after rebounding 25.2% in 2021 (from the COVID-related drop of 19.6% the year prior). Santa Cruz County hotel/motel receipts were up 30.7% in 2022 on the heels of a 43.8% jump in 2021, rebounding from a 30.7% drop in 2020. Sales across industries were impacted by record-low border crossings from Mexico into the U.S. at the Nogales port of entry in 2020, the first year of the pandemic. Sales rebounded strongly in 2021 and 2022.

TOURISM VISITOR COUNTS: In 2022, visits to Patagonia Lake State Park were up 5.2%. This followed a 14.8% drop in visitors in 2021 (after increasing 0.2% in 2020, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic). Visits to Tubac Presidio State Historic Park were down 2.3% in 2022, after increasing 40.2% in 2021 (following a 39.7% COVID-related decline in 2020). Visits to Tumacacori National Historic Park were up 16.3% in 2022. Annual visits to Tumacacori were up 40.6% in 2021, after falling 40.2% in 2020, the first year of the pandemic.

TRAVEL IMPACTS: According to research by Dean Runyan Associates for Arizona Office of Tourism, Santa Cruz County's travel industry (including business and leisure travel) generated $258.2 million in direct spending countywide in 2022, up 35.1% from 2021 (the year 2021 saw a 60.9% increase, rebounding from a 49.5% COVID-related drop in 2020, the first year of the pandemic). Travel-related direct spending in 2022 was at its highest level since 2015. Santa Cruz County's travel industry supported 2,000 jobs countywide in 2022 (up 6.2% from the year prior) with household earnings of $63.9 million (up 16.4% from 2021), according to the study.

BORDER CROSSINGS: In 2022, pedestrian border crossings from Mexico into the US at the Nogales port of entry in Santa Cruz County were up 46.1%, on the heels of a 23.7% jump in 2021 (rebounding from a decline of 58.5% in 2020, the first year of the COVID pandemic). The number of personal vehicle passengers through the Nogales port was up 51.6% in 2022, after increasing 31.2% in 2021 (rebounding from a 47.3% drop in 2020). Despite the increases in 2021 and 2022, both pedestrian and vehicle passenger crossings in 2022 remained considerably below pre-COVID levels. (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 Nogales Port of Entry.)

INTERNATIONAL TRADE: In 2022, the value of international trade (imports and exports) passing through Santa Cruz County's Nogales port of entry totaled $29.1 billion, up 16.4% from 2021. Exports totaled $10.4 billion, up 4.9%, while imports came in at $18.6 billion, up 23.9%.

BANK DEPOSITS: In 2022, bank deposits in Santa Cruz County (as of June 30) were up 33.4% from 2021. That 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 62 bankruptcy filings in Santa Cruz County, down 16.2% from 74 in 2021. Filings fell steeply in 2020, 2021, and 2022, helped along by COVID programs, including mortgage relief and the eviction moratorium. Bankruptcy filings in Santa Cruz County peaked at 150 in 2019, the year before the start of the pandemic.