Gov. Janet Napolitano announced on Dec. 28  the consolidation of Arizona’s economic research under one department.

Gov. Janet Napolitano announced on Dec. 28  the consolidation of Arizona’s economic research under one department.

The Arizona Department of Commerce will now house the two economic research functions previously at both Commerce and the Arizona Department of Economic Security.

The consolidation is part of the governor’s mandate to modernize state government, improve service quality for the public and enable the agencies to focus on core missions: DES on social services and Commerce on economic development.

The combined Research Administration will be responsible for conducting labor and population research and producing statistics that will continue to be used statewide to generate economic forecasts.

“These professionals provide an excellent resource to economic forecasters across Arizona,” said Jan Lesher, director of the Arizona Department of Commerce. “This consolidation will enable improved information sharing, and increase the quality of research data that the state produces.”

Various public entities, such as cities, townships and counties, have come to rely on data that is compiled by state researchers at DES and Commerce. Those entities will benefit from more timely information housed at one agency rather than two separate departments.

Monthly unemployment statistics compiled and released  by DES will continue to be put together by the same staff. The numbers will come from ADOC beginning in January.

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