Pinal County's population as of Census 2020 was 425,264, up 13.2% from 2010. Pinal County's population growth was the third-fastest of Arizona's 15 counties since 2010, behind only Maricopa and Greenlee. Pinal County's population is expected to reach 587,821 in 2030 and 1,230,545 in 2060, according to projections by Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
UNEMPLOYMENT: Pinal County's annual unemployment rate in 2021 was 4.7% (down from 7.3% in 2020, the first year of the COVID pandemic). At the peak of COVID business closures, the unemployment rate in Pinal County hit a high of 12.1% in April 2020. Pinal County’s unemployment rate of 4.7% in 2021 was lower than the statewide rate of 4.9% and the nationwide rate of 5.3%.
NONFARM PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT: Pinal County gained 2,475 jobs in 2022 for annual job growth of 3.9% (based on average monthly job numbers). The private sector added 2,500 jobs (5.6%), while the government sector lost 25 jobs (-0.1%). In the private sector, goods-producing jobs were up by 750 (9.0%) while service jobs grew by 1,750 (4.8%).
WAGES: The average annual wage in Pinal County in 2021 was $48,970 ($23.54 hourly), which was 89% of the Arizona statewide average wage of $55,170 ($26.53 hourly) and 84% of the national average wage of $58,260 ($28.01 hourly). Pinal County's average wage in 2021 was up 7.6% from 2020.
Note: Labor force, employment, unemployment, and jobs data on this page are updated annually. For the most recent monthly labor market data for Pinal County, click here.
PERSONAL INCOME: In 2021, Pinal County had a per capita personal income (PCPI) of $43,793. This PCPI ranked 12th in the state and was 78.9% of the state average, $55,487, and 68.3% of the national average, $64,143. The 2021 PCPI reflected an increase of 6.9% from 2020. The 2020–2021 state change was 6% and the national change was 7.3%. In 2011, the PCPI of Pinal County was $25,551 and ranked 14th in the state. The 2011–2021 compound annual growth rate of PCPI was 5.5%. The compound annual growth rate for the state was 4.6% and for the nation was 4.1%.
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT: In 2021, Pinal County produced 11,593,918 in current-dollar total GDP*. This GDP ranked 3rd in the state and accounted for 2.8% of the state total. In 2011, the total GDP of Pinal County was 7,105,294 and ranked 3rd in the state. In 2021, Pinal County real GDP grew 6.2%; the 2020–2021 state change was 6.3%. The 2011–2021 compound annual growth rate for Pinal County real GDP was 2.8%; the compound annual growth rate for the state was 2.7%.
*GDP estimates are in thousands of dollars.
For more info on Pinal County's personal income and GDP, check out the county's BEA Regional Fact Sheet (BEARFACTS)
MAJOR INDUSTRY SALES: In 2022, Pinal County's retail sales were up 12.1%, following strong gains of 10.5%, 18.7%, and 18.3% in 2019, 2020, and 2021, respectively. Restaurant & bar sales were up 17.5% in 2022, following record-high growth of 21.1% in 2021 (with records back to 2009). Pinal County's hotel/motel receipts were up 33.8% in 2022, following record-high growth of 34.9% in 2021 (on the heels of a 6.3% drop in 2020, the first year of the COVID pandemic).
BANK DEPOSITS: In 2022, bank deposits in Pinal County (as of June 30) were up 12.3% from 2021. That followed strong gains of 16.7% and 13.2% in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Growth rates from 2020 through 2022 were the highest of any 3-year period on record (with records back to 1994). Deposits in recent years were helped along by COVID stimulus payments and programs.
HOME PRICES & DAYS ON MARKET: In March 2022, the median price of homes sold in Pinal County was $409,900, according to National Association of Realtors. That was up 32.2% from March 2021. The median days on market in March was 46, up from 42 in March 2021. As of May 2022, there were 4,643 homes listed for sale in Pinal County, up from 4,115 in June 2021. (Data in this section updated annually; for the most recent monthly data, visit Pinal County, AZ Real Estate Market.)
NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION: In 2021, there were 7,565 building permits issued for new single-family homes in Pinal County, up 27.0% from 2020. New home permits in 2021 were at their highest level since 2005. For the most recent monthly data, click here.
Pinal New Residential Construction (building permits) (1990-current) (xlsx)
DownloadVisits to Casa Grande Ruins National Monument were up 11.3% in 2021, after falling 35.3% in 2020--the first year of the COVID pandemic. Visits to Lost Dutchman State Park were down 1.0% in 2021, following a 5.3% drop in 2020. McFarland State Historic Park visits were up 22.6% in 2021, after falling 55.7% in 2020. Oracle State Park visits were down 25.3% in 2021, following a drop of 3.3% in 2020. Picacho Peak visits were down 3.7% in 2021, after falling 15.3% in 2020.
According to research by Dean Runyan Associates for Arizona Office of Tourism, Pinal County's travel industry (including business and leisure travel) generated $814.1 million in direct spending in 2021, up 52.6% following a COVID-related decline of 31.1% in 2020. Pinal County's travel industry supported 7,700 jobs countywide in 2021 (up 16.9% after falling 3.7% the year prior) with associated household earnings of $250 million (up 19.7% following an increase of 4.4% the previous year).