Arizona unemployment rate notches upward in February

Arizona’s unemployment rate is up a notch, increasing to 5.1 percent in February from 5 percent in January.

The state Department of Administration reports that Arizona’s economy added 27,100 jobs in February as 10 of 11 economic sectors had employment grains and three had losses.

The monthly gain was larger than the average since the Great Recession.

The government sector had the biggest gain with an increase of 15,500 jobs, followed by leisure and hospitality with an increase of 5,500 jobs.

The trade, transportation and utilities lost 4,600 0jobs.

Arizona’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.5 percent in February 2016 .