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 2020 was 7.7% (up from 5.7% in 2019, due to the COVID pandemic and related economic decline). At the peak of COVID business closures, the unemployment rate in Gila County hit a high of 12.8% in April 2020, its highest level since March 2010. Gila County’s unemployment rate of 7.7% in 2020 was lower than the statewide rate of 7.9% and the nationwide rate of 8.1%.
NONFARM PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT: Gila County lost 750 jobs in 2020 for annual job growth of -5.0%. The private sector declined by 450 jobs (-4.8%), with the loss of 200 goods-producing jobs (-7.0%) and 250 service jobs (-3.8%). Gila County's government sector lost 300 jobs (-5.4%), with federal jobs up by 25 (+9.1%) and state and local government jobs down by 325 (-6.2%).
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 2019, Gila County had a per capita personal income (PCPI) of $41,217. This PCPI ranked 7th in the state and was 89% of the state average, $46,058, and 73% of the national average, $56,490. The 2019 PCPI reflected an increase of 3.2% from 2018. The 2018-2019 state change was 3.3% and the national change was 3.5%. In 2009, the PCPI of Gila County was $30,286 and ranked 5th in the state. The 2009-2019 compound annual growth rate of PCPI was 3.1%. The compound annual growth rate for the state was 3.3% and for the nation was 3.7%.
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 2020, Gila County's retail sales were up 16.9%. Despite the COVID pandemic, Gila County's restaurant & bar sales were up 2.3% and hotel/motel receipts were up 22.1% in 2020.
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT: In 2019, Gila County produced $2.1 billion in current-dollar total GDP. This GDP ranked 12th in the state and accounted for 0.6% of the state total. In 2009, the total GDP of Gila County was $1.7 billion and ranked 11th in the state. In 2019, Gila County real GDP grew 4.5%; the 2018-2019 state change was 3.1%. The 2009-2019 compound annual growth rate for Gila County real GDP was 0.5%; the compound annual growth rate for the state was 2.4%.
HOME PRICES & DAYS ON MARKET: In May 2021, the median price of homes sold in Gila County was $337,000, according to National Association of Realtors. That was up 46.5% from May 2020. The median days on market in May was 54, down from 77 in May 2020. As of June 2021, there were 671 homes listed for sale in Gila County (Gila County, AZ Real Estate Market).
NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION: In 2020, permits were issued for 181 new single-family homes in Gila County, up from 139 in 2019. New single-family residential permits in 2020 were at their highest level since 2005.
Gila New Residential Construction (building permits) (1993-current) (xlsx)
DownloadIn 2020, visits to Tonto National Monument in Gila County were down 14.2%, while visits to Tonto Natural Bridge State Park were down 25.1% due to the COVID pandemic and associated declines in travel.
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 2020, bank deposits in Gila County (as of June 30) were up 17.4% from 2019 - its fastest rate of growth on record (with records back to 1994). Deposits were helped along by the first round of COVID stimulus payments, which went out beginning in April 2020.
Gila Bank Deposits (1994-current) (xlsx)
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