Navajo County's population as of Census 2020 was 106,717, down 0.7% from 2010. Navajo County's population is projected to reach 116,445 in 2025 before declining to 115,179 by 2055, according to pre-Census 2020 projections by Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
UNEMPLOYMENT: Navajo County's unemployment rate in 2021 was 6.5% (down from 9.9% in 2020, the first year of the COVID pandemic). At the peak of COVID business closures, the unemployment rate in Navajo County hit a high of 14.7% in April 2020. Navajo County’s unemployment rate of 6.5% in 2021 was higher than the statewide rate of 4.9% and the nationwide rate of 5.3%.
NONFARM PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT: Navajo County gained 700 jobs in 2021 for annual job growth of 2.7%. The private sector added 625 jobs (3.7%) and the government sector added 75 jobs (0.8%). In the private sector, goods-producing jobs were up by 125 (7.8%) while service jobs grew by 500 (3.3%).
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, Navajo County had a per capita personal income (PCPI) of $36,169. This PCPI ranked 13th in the state and was 73% of the state average, $49,648, and 61% of the national average, $59,510. The 2020 PCPI reflected an increase of 13.0% from 2019. The 2019-2020 state change was 8.4% and the national change was 6.2%. In 2010, the PCPI of Navajo County was $24,641 and ranked 13th in the state. The 2010-2020 compound annual growth rate of PCPI was 3.9%. The compound annual growth rate for the state was 3.9% and for the nation was 3.9%.
WAGES: The average annual wage in Navajo County in 2020 was $45,493 ($21.87 hourly), which was 85% of the Arizona statewide average wage of $53,396 ($25.67 hourly) and 81% of the national average wage of $56,310 ($27.07 hourly).
MAJOR INDUSTRY SALES: In 2021, Navajo County's retail sales were up 5.3%, after falling 7.5% in 2020. Navajo County's restaurant & bar sales were up 24.1% in 2021, following growth of 7.5% the year prior. Hotel/motel receipts were up 32.7% in 2021, after increasing 5.6% in 2020.
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT: In 2020, Navajo County produced $2,994,446 in current-dollar total GDP*. This GDP ranked 9th in the state and accounted for 0.8% of the state total. In 2010, the total GDP of Navajo County was $2,768,527 and ranked 9th in the state. In 2020, Navajo County real GDP fell 4%; the 2019-2020 state change was -1.0%. The 2010-2020 compound annual growth rate for Navajo County real GDP was -1.2%; 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 Navajo County was $433,500, according to National Association of Realtors. That was up 48.5% from March 2021. The median days on market in March was 42, down from 60 in March 2021. As of May 2022, there were 1,156 homes listed for sale in Navajo County, down from 1,401 in June 2021 (Navajo County, AZ Real Estate Market).
NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION: In 2021, permits were issued for 592 new single-family homes in Navajo County, up 81.0% from 2020. New home permits in 2021 were at their highest level on record (with records back to 1993).
Navajo New Residential Construction (building permits) (1993-current) (xlsx)
DownloadIn 2021, visits to Navajo National Monument in Navajo County were up 272.2%, rebounding from a COVID-related decline of 92% in 2020. Visits to Fool Hollow Lake were down 23.5% in 2021, after increasing 18.3% in 2020. Homolovi Ruins visits were up 60.7% in 2021, following a 4.2% drop in 2020.
According to research by Dean Runyan Associates for Arizona Office of Tourism, Navajo County's travel industry (including business and leisure travel) generated $325.5 million in direct spending in 2020, down 13.5% from 2019. Navajo County's travel industry supported 3,700 jobs (down 7.3%) countywide with earnings of $108.6 million (down 0.7%) 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 Navajo County (as of June 30) were up 24.7% from 2020 - its fastest rate of growth on record (with records back to 1994). That followed a gain of 19.1% in 2020 (the previous record). Deposits in 2020 and 2021 were helped along by COVID stimulus payments and programs.
Navajo Bank Deposits (1994-current) (xlsx)
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