As copper prices stay high, the industry’s jobs machine keeps humming in Southern Arizona and statewide.
The region’s two major mining companies, Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold and Asarco, have more employees on their Arizona payrolls today than they did a year ago. They are looking to hire more workers now than they were a year ago. They also continue to have expansion or potential expansion plans, just as they did a year ago.
Although copper prices are a bit lower today than a year ago – $3.75 a pound compared to $4.05 to $4.30 then – prices remain very high by historical standards. Accordingly, the recent price drop has had no effect on Arizona copper-industry employment, the companies say.
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