Story updated 5:18 p.m. March 12, 2015
A new report from the Arizona Office of Employment and Population Statistics shows Arizona lost 43,000 jobs in January.
That number is actually a positive, considering the average job loss for the month is 51,000.
Job losses are the norm for January as companies reduce staff from the busy holiday season.
But the drop in jobs may have been muted by the large sporting events going on in Arizona this winter.
“The only thing that has recently changed were these events, the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl, in addition to the NASCAR and golf events that normally happen this time of year," said state economist Aruna Murthy. "So I tend to feel that they may have had some impact on the job numbers.”
As proof, Murthy points to the leisure and hospitality sector, which normally reports losses in January. The sector was flat.
But, with those large events now in the past, Murthy said the job losses may show up in coming months.
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