The headlines are that higher unemployment clouds recovery. The national unemployment jumped from 9.6% to 9.8% in November despite the seasonal hiring. It’s a fact that more employers are hiring temporary workers because they are wary of the economy. In the Phoenix market unemployment is finally going down.

Unemployment in Mesa and Phoenix is at 7.7 percent and 9.7 percent respectively. Gilbert is at 4.8 percent, Fountain Hills is at 4.1 percent while Carefree stands at 3.9 percent- far below the national rate. 

Scottsdale’s jobless rate is at 6.2 percent down substantially from last year. It added 800 jobs when International Cruise and Excursions moved its headquarters there.  Sage software and Yelp were major contributors to the addition of 700 jobs to the city and Yelp plans on hiring more in January. Other Companies that expanded or moved their operations to Scottsdale were MetLife, Kyocera Solar Inc., and Eventinterface.com.

Battery technology company Fluidic Energy is opening a manufacturing plant at 8455 N. 90th Street in Scottsdale while the biotech company of 120 Plus Club plans to add 20 jobs at the ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center-SkySong.

Jim Keeley, a commercial real estate broker said, “The confidence level is coming back as employers and investors see real estate values bottom out.”