Area Job Growth Slows from 1999 Record Pace

PHOENIX-Maricopa County, in which Phoenix and its suburbs reside, had showed the most job creation during 1999 of any area in the nation, according to the latest figures released by the US Census Bureau.

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%.