Arizona job growth outpaced the national rate as the state continued to recover. Statewide improvement in job gains was primarily found in the Phoenix metropolitan area, with only 1,300 new jobs in the Tucson region since July 2012. According to Forbes magazine and Moody’s Analytics, Arizona ranks No. 1 nationally for projected job growth over the next five years, forecasted to increase 3.0% with an annual economic growth of 4.6%. The housing recovery statewide positively impacted construction jobs in both Phoenix and Tucson, but permits remained low, relative to historic norms. Conventional lending is recovering and inventory remained below the balance point at 3.5 months while finished lot supply is scarce.
