Yuma County's population as of Census 2020 was 203,881, up 4.2% from 2010. Yuma County's population is projected to reach 247,724 in 2025 and 340,187 in 2055, according to pre-Census 2020 projections by Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.
UNEMPLOYMENT: Yuma County's unemployment rate in 2020 was 17.1% (up from 16.8% in 2019). At the peak of COVID business closures, the unemployment rate in Yuma County hit a high of 25.0% in April 2020, its highest level since August 2015. Yuma County’s unemployment rate of 17.1% in 2020 was more than double the statewide rate of 7.9% and the nationwide rate of 8.1%.
NONFARM PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT: Yuma County lost 1,900 jobs in 2020 for annual job growth of -3.3%. The private sector declined by 1,500 jobs (-3.5%), with the gain of 500 goods-producing jobs (+8.8%) and the loss of 1,900 service jobs (-5.1%). Yuma County's government sector lost 500 jobs (-3.4%), with federal jobs stabilizing at 2019 levels in 2020 and state and local government jobs down by 500 (-4.6%).
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, Yuma County had a per capita personal income (PCPI) of $36,570. This PCPI ranked 9th in the state and was 79% of the state average, $46,058, and 65% of the national average, $56,490. The 2019 PCPI reflected an increase of 4.4% from 2018. The 2018-2019 state change was 3.3% and the national change was 3.5%. In 2009, the PCPI of Yuma County was $26,406 and ranked 9th in the state. The 2009-2019 compound annual growth rate of PCPI was 3.3%. The compound annual growth rate for the state was 3.3% and for the nation was 3.7%.
WAGES: The average annual wage in Yuma County in 2020 was $43,156 ($20.75 hourly), which was 81% of the Arizona statewide average wage of $53,396 ($25.67 hourly) and 77% of the national average wage of $56,310 ($27.07 hourly).
MAJOR INDUSTRY SALES: In 2020, Yuma County's retail sales were up 5.9%. Yuma County's restaurant & bar sales were down 0.1%, while hotel/motel receipts were down 2.2% in 2020.
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT: In 2019, Yuma County produced $8.6 billion in current-dollar total GDP. This GDP ranked 3rd in the state and accounted for 2.3% of the state total. In 2009, the total GDP of Yuma County was $5.7 billion and ranked 5th in the state. In 2019, Yuma County real GDP grew 4.8%; the 2018-2019 state change was 3.1%. The 2009-2019 compound annual growth rate for Yuma County real GDP was 2.2%; 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 Yuma County was $210,000, according to National Association of Realtors. That was up 25.7% from May 2020. The median days on market in May was 55, down from 78 in May 2020. As of June 2021, there were 610 homes listed for sale in Yuma County (Yuma County, AZ Real Estate Market).
NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION: In 2020, there were 1,181 building permits issued for new single-family homes in Yuma County, down 1.6% from 2019. The average permit value in 2020 was $165,835, up 7.3% from the year prior.
Yuma New Residential Construction (building permits & valuation) (1995-current) (xlsx)
DownloadIn 2020, visits to state parks in Yuma County were down considerably due to the COVID pandemic, with visits to Yuma Territorial Prison down 40.3% and Colorado River (Yuma Crossing) visits down 41.9%.
According to research by Dean Runyan Associates for Arizona Office of Tourism, Yuma County's travel industry (including business and leisure travel) generated $468.9 million in direct spending in 2020, down 29.7% from 2019. Yuma County's travel industry supported 5,300 jobs (down 23.3%) countywide with earnings of $160.5 million (down 14.5%) in 2020, according to the study.
Check out Arizona Office of Tourism for research and marketing resources for the Arizona tourism industry.
BORDER CROSSINGS: In 2020, border crossings from Mexico into the US at the San Luis port of entry in Yuma County were down across modes of transportation due to COVID. Pedestrian crossings were down 28% and the number of personal vehicle passengers was down 31.7%; both were at record lows (with records back to 1996).
INTERNATIONAL TRADE: In 2020, the value of international trade (imports and exports) passing through Yuma County's San Luis port of entry totaled $1.2 billion, down 9.3% from 2019 and the lowest level since 2011. Exports totaled $455.3 million (down 10.1% and lowest since 2009) while imports came in at $772.6 million (down 8.9% and lowest since 2012)
In 2020, bank deposits in Yuma County (as of June 30) were up 23.4% 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.
Yuma Bank Deposits (1994-current) (xlsx)
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