Gila County's population as of Census 2020 was 53,272, down 0.6% from 2010. Gila County's population is projected to reach 55,395 in 2025 before declining to 53,309 by 2055, according to pre-Census 2020 projections by Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
UNEMPLOYMENT: Gila County's unemployment rate in 2021 was 5.0% (down from 7.5% in 2020, the first year of the COVID pandemic). At the peak of COVID business closures, the unemployment rate in Gila County hit a high of 12.1% in April 2020. Gila County’s unemployment rate of 5.0% in 2021 was higher than the statewide rate of 4.9% but lower than the nationwide rate of 5.3%.
NONFARM PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT: Gila County gained 250 jobs in 2021 for annual job growth of 1.7%. The private sector added 325 jobs (3.6%), while the government sector lost 75 jobs (-1.4%). In the private sector, goods-producing jobs were up by 125 (4.7%) while service jobs grew by 200 (3.1%).
Note: Labor force, employment, unemployment, and jobs data on this site are updated annually. For the most recent monthly labor market data, visit Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
PERSONAL INCOME: In 2020, Gila County had a per capita personal income (PCPI) of $44,201. This PCPI ranked 6th in the state and was 89% of the state average, $49,648, and 74% of the national average, $59,510. The 2020 PCPI reflected an increase of 11.3% from 2019. The 2019-2020 state change was 8.4% and the national change was 6.2%. In 2010, the PCPI of Gila County was $31,569 and ranked 5th in the state. The 2010-2020 compound annual growth rate of PCPI was 3.4%. The compound annual growth rate for the state was 3.9% and for the nation was 3.9%.
WAGES: The average annual wage in Gila County in 2020 was $47,214 ($22.70 hourly), which was 88% of the Arizona statewide average wage of $53,396 ($25.67 hourly) and 84% of the national average wage of $56,310 ($27.07 hourly).
MAJOR INDUSTRY SALES: In 2021, Gila County's retail sales were up 8.9%, following a 16.9% increase in 2020. Gila County's restaurant & bar sales were up 16.8% in 2021, after growing 2.3% in 2020. Hotel/motel receipts were up 33.8% in 2021, after gains of 22.1% in 2020.
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT: In 2020, Gila County produced $1,781,969 in current-dollar total GDP*. This GDP ranked 12th in the state and accounted for 0.5% of the state total. In 2010, the total GDP of Gila County was $2,013,000 and ranked 11th in the state. In 2020, Gila County real GDP fell 0.2%; the 2019-2020 state change was -1.0%. The 2010-2020 compound annual growth rate for Gila County real GDP was -2.2%; the compound annual growth rate for the state was 2.1%.
*GDP estimates are in thousands of dollars.
HOME PRICES & DAYS ON MARKET: In March 2022, the median price of homes sold in Gila County was $475,000, according to National Association of Realtors. That was up 35.7% from March 2021. The median days on market in March was 49, down from 54 in March 2021. As of May 2022, there were 682 homes listed for sale in Gila County, up from 671 in June 2021 (Gila County, AZ Real Estate Market).
NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION: In 2021, permits were issued for 188 new single-family homes in Gila County, up from 181 in 2020. New single-family residential permits in 2021 were at their highest level since 2005.
Gila New Residential Construction (building permits) (1993-current) (xlsx)
DownloadIn 2021, visits to Tonto National Monument in Gila County were up 30.6%, following a COVID-related decline of 14.2% in 2020. Visits to Tonto Natural Bridge State Park were up 64.5% in 2021, after a 25.1% drop in 2020.
According to research by Dean Runyan Associates for Arizona Office of Tourism, Gila County's travel industry (including business and leisure travel) generated $287.4 million in direct spending in 2020, down 10.5% from 2019. Gila County's travel industry supported 2,800 jobs (down 5.2%) countywide with earnings of $84.6 million (down 0.9%) in 2020, according to the study.
Check out Arizona Office of Tourism for research and marketing resources for the Arizona tourism industry.
In 2021, bank deposits in Gila County (as of June 30) were up 3.9% from 2020. That followed growth of 17.4% the year prior - its fastest rate of growth on record (with records back to 1994). Deposits in 2020 and 2021 were helped along by COVID stimulus payments and programs.
Gila Bank Deposits (1994-current) (xlsx)
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