The number of Maricopa County employees had increased by 58,800 for a total of 1,305,300 in 1999, the latest year for which figures are available. That number represents an increase of 4.7% over 1998's total job number. The sheer number of created jobs had catapulted the Phoenix area into the nation's hardiest sector that year.

For job creation, the Phoenix area had been trailed by Orange County, 56,900 new jobs or a 4.5% growth; Cook County, IL, 55,400 and 2.3% increase; San Diego, 54,800, reflecting a 5.7% jump; and Los Angeles, 54,200, with a 1.5% increase. The bureau had placed the 1999 national job growth rate at 2.4%.

In Pima County, where Tucson lies, also had strong job creation, well above the national average. During the one-year period Pima County had added 10,527 jobs, an increase of 3.9% over the prior year.

"Nationally, the number of employees in private businesses continued to increase, from 108 million in 1998 to 111 million in 1999," Census Bureau analyst Paul Hanczaryk says. During 1999, the pay for all private business employees grew by 7.4% over 1998 levels, from $3.3 trillion to almost $3.6 trillion. In 1999, Maricopa County's average job had paid $30,713, while in Tucson it had been $26,439. The statewide average salary is $28,807 in comparison to a national average of $32,109.

According to figures from the State Department of Economic Security, which counted a 4.8% job increase in 1999, growth had started slowing, a trend that continued into 2000 when the new job growth rate was 3.9%. In 2001, the job growth rate is even slower and now rides at about 2.4%, according to Dan Anderson, the department's research administrator.