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 2020 was 10.1% (up from 7.6% in 2019, due to the COVID pandemic and related economic decline). At the peak of COVID business closures, the unemployment rate in Navajo County hit a high of 15.5% in April 2020, its highest level since July 2011. Navajo County’s unemployment rate of 10.1% in 2020 was higher than the statewide rate of 7.9% and the nationwide rate of 8.1%.
NONFARM PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT: Navajo County lost 1,250 jobs in 2020 for annual job growth of -4.6%. The private sector declined by 1,000 jobs (-5.7%), with the loss of 225 goods-producing jobs (-12.7%) and 775 service jobs (-4.9%). Navajo County's government sector lost 250 jobs (-2.6%) with federal jobs up by 150 (+8.1%) and state and local government jobs down by 400 (-5.2%).
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, Navajo County had a per capita personal income (PCPI) of $33,268. This PCPI ranked 13th in the state and was 72% of the state average, $46,058, and 59% of the national average, $56,490. The 2019 PCPI reflected an increase of 3.6% from 2018. The 2018-2019 state change was 3.3% and the national change was 3.5%. In 2009, the PCPI of Navajo County was $25,023 and ranked 13th in the state. The 2009-2019 compound annual growth rate of PCPI was 2.9%. The compound annual growth rate for the state was 3.3% and for the nation was 3.7%.
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 2020, Navajo County's retail sales were down 7.5%. Despite the COVID pandemic, Navajo County's restaurant & bar sales were up 7.5% and hotel/motel receipts were up 5.6% in 2020.
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT: In 2019, Navajo County produced $3.5 billion in current-dollar total GDP. This GDP ranked 9th in the state and accounted for 0.9% of the state total. In 2009, the total GDP of Navajo County was $3 billion and ranked 9th in the state. In 2019, Navajo County real GDP grew 2.5%; the 2018-2019 state change was 3.1%. The 2009-2019 compound annual growth rate for Navajo County real GDP was -0.4%; 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 Navajo County was $260,000, according to National Association of Realtors. That was up 32.7% from May 2020. The median days on market in May was 53, down from 175 in May 2020. As of June 2021, there were 1,401 homes listed for sale in Navajo County (Navajo County, AZ Real Estate Market).
NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION: In 2020, permits were issued for 327 new single-family homes in Navajo County, up 18.9% from 2019. New home permits in 2020 were at their highest level since 2007.
Navajo New Residential Construction (building permits) (1993-current) (xlsx)
DownloadIn 2020, visits to Navajo National Monument in Navajo County were down 92%, while visits to Fool Hollow Lake were up 18.3% and Homolovi Ruins visits were down 4.2%.
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 2020, bank deposits in Navajo County (as of June 30) were up 19.1% 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.
Navajo Bank Deposits (1994-current) (xlsx)
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