In 2016, the Tucson Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) ranked ninth out of 12 comparable western MSAs in the labor force participation rate for the working-age population (25-54), according to the Making Action Possible Dashboard, a project of the Economic and Business Research Center at the University of Arizona.
Tucson posted a 0.6 percentage point increase in the rate since 2009.
The labor force participation rate is an important gauge of the health and potential output of the economy. Included in the labor force are both employed persons and the unemployed who are actively seeking employment. A higher rate indicates that workers believe businesses are hiring for jobs that are worth their time and effort.
If Tucson can sustain solid job growth in coming years, we will see the labor force participation rate continue to improve.
