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Arizona Unemployment Rate Down, Still Lacking High Wage Jobs

Arizona's jobless rate is once again moving in the right direction, but it's not entirely good news.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate last month was 6.1 percent, down two-tenths of a point from September. That's the first positive movement in five months. But economist Jim Rounds said that growth rate is not reaching as many high wage jobs.

"So we're adding jobs at a moderate pace and we're adding jobs that are only with moderate wages," Rounds said.

The numbers tell that story. Total employment is up 2.3 percent year over year but there are fewer people working in manufacturing now than a year ago.

Employment in the manufacturing of computers and electronics is more than 5 percent lower than last year.

Rounds said the future of Arizona manufacturing will be finding the kind of high tech jobs and products that can't be made for cheaper overseas.

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