Of the 16,150 persons among the Santa Cruz County labor force, 950 were out of work in April, generating a seasonally adjusted jobless rate of 7.8 percent.

Officers seized two bullet-proof vests, a safe, six semi-tractors, one trailer, four horse trailers, two all-terrain vehicles, a Nissan four-door pick-up with Mexico plates, a 2006 Ford Dually pick-up truck, a 1987 Chevrolet Suburban and a 2007 Ford F-250 King Ranch crew-cab pick-up.

That is nearly 3.6 percent higher than the overall state unemployment rate of 4.2 percent, but far better than Apache County, which registered 9.8 percent, according to a report compiled by the Arizona Department of Economic Security Research Administration.

Prospects improving

The county continues to show a healthy job picture. The average jobless rate four months into 2007 is 8.3 percent. A decade ago, unemployment rates were in double digits

This year, the jobless rate decreased from a high of 8.9 percent in January; 8.2 percent in February; and 8.3 in March for an average of 8.3 percent.

But April had the least amount of people actually working since the beginning of the year. There were 15,200 folks employed that month, down from a high of 15,425 workers in February.

Total non-farm positions increased by 125 since the beginning of the year and now total 13,950; total private jobs were up by 125, as well; manufacturing was up 75; service was up 50 jobs.

Government jobs have remained steady since January. The federal government employs 1,375 people in Santa Cruz, while state and local governments have hired 2,100 workers.

The losing sector included trade, transportation and utilities, which declined by 175 jobs. Statewide, this sector trimmed 1,000 jobs.

Arizona reached a record of 2.73 million non-farm jobs in April. Nevertheless, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the state was one-tenth of one percentage point from March.

Personal per capita income in Santa Cruz is $19,110 annually, according to DES statistics. Statewide, per capita income is about $28,658 a year.

In the three years between 2003 and 2006, government added 325 jobs in the county; 109 in building material and supply dealers; 95 in warehousing and storage; building finishers and contractors, 55; specialized design services, 41; employment services 32; and real estate, 24.

Grocery stores, meanwhile, lost 101 jobs; electronic markets and agents and brokers, 60; freight transportation, 55; office administrative services, 26; cement and concrete product manufacturing, 25.