Stories - AZPM

Melissa Ayun, who joined the Tucson Police Department in 2005, says she is grateful for the career opportunities and benefits.

The Buzz: Law enforcement recruiting and shortages in Southern Arizona

How are law enforcement agencies being hit by a shortage of staff and what are they doing to fill open positions with diverse staff?

Some restaurants opened for dine-in service on Monday, while others said they plan to wait until they feel it's safe for staff and customers.

Arizona's minimum wage set to increase

State law mandates it go up with inflation.

A worker demonstrates her skills at the Chicago Women in Trades facility. Illinois was one of the top 10 states for union representation last year, at 13.9% of workers, more than 2.5 times Arizona’s rate of 5.4%, despite slow gains in the state.

Union membership in Arizona inches up

The state still trails much of the nation.

File image of a construction worker in Tucson.

Arizona adds many new jobs across industries

Industries that have struggled to hire are showing some signs of recovery

Where's the new money in the state budget going?

We look at a handful of areas that will see a notable increase in funds this fiscal year

Tucson baker extraordinaire, Don Guerra.

A grassroots Tucson baker wins a national award for excellence.

Also on Arizona Spotlight: Renowned author Tom Miller reads from "Where Was I? A Travel Writer's Memoir"; Adiba Nelson shares truth about her first day on the job as a new mother; and remembering cowboy poet & philosopher Baxter Black.

Arizona hits record low unemployment, but Tucson lags in jobs recovery

The state also recorded one of the highest quit rates in the country.

More than 470,000 Arizonans have filed for unemployment in the last six weeks. New expanded jobless benefits begin in May, but advocates worry it won’t be enough to offset the massive damage from the coronavirus.

Ducey ends federal $300 weekly unemployment bonus

Governor offers $2,000 "Back to work" bonus instead.

A look at economic help for Arizonans one year into the pandemic

Despite federal and state aid, many Arizonans are still at risk of going hungry or losing their homes.

The view of the Tucson Skyline from A Mountain. Oct. 23, 2019.

News roundup: President Trump visits Tucson, city asks UA to test all students, high fashion coming to Tucson

Recent coverage impacting Southern Arizona, Oct. 19

AZ unemployment claims continue to grow

The number of people receiving unemployment benefits in Arizona grew by 30,000.

Gov. Doug Ducey at July 30 update on Arizona's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ducey says the state's not responsible for covering loss of federal unemployment help

The federal benefit is set to expire this week, and Ducey says it's up to Congress to act.

Arizona weekly unemployment claims close to a record

Claims are within a few thousand of the highest since the pandemic began.

Overall Arizona weekly unemployment shows slight drop

Self-employed claims dropped but regular unemployment jumped last week.

Jobless claims in Arizona jumped to more than eight times their normal level last week, to 29,000, as the first wave of layoffs from businesses affected by COVID-19 changes hit the state. In a typical week, about 3,500 claims are filed, state officials said.

Unemployment help available on the weekend as Arizona claims continue to rise

The Department of Economic Security has expanded its call center days through the weekend.

Advocates have scrambled to find answers for DACA recipients amid the the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, the fate of the program is still up in the air.

As Supreme Court nears decision, thousands of DACA recipients are on the COVID-19 front lines

The court could rule on the future of the Obama-era policy and some 650,000 current recipients in the coming weeks.

More Arizona Jobs Stories