Jobless rate remains at 7.1% in Arkansas
by October 21, 2009 11:33 am 70 views
Arkansas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained stable at 7.1% in September, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The United States’ jobless rate rose one-tenth of a percentage point, from 9.7% in August to 9.8% in September.
Arkansas’ civilian labor force rose 9,000 in September, a result of 8,400 more employed and 600 more unemployed Arkansans. The increase in the number of employed contributed to the stability of the unemployment rate, noted a statement from the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services.
“This is the first time since February 2009 that the monthly gain in the number of employed was larger than the increase in the number of unemployed,” DWS Communications Director Kimberly Friedman said in the statement.
ANNUAL EMPLOYMENT CHANGES (Sept. 2009 – Sept. 2008)
• The number of unemployed in Arkansas was 97,069 in September 2009, up 34.9% over the 71,907 unemployed in September 2008.
• Since September 2008, Arkansas manufacturing employment has fallen 11.2% to 161,700 in September 2009. The Arkansas DWS estimates that more than 75% of the loss occurred in durable goods, which is the primary component of manufacturing in the Fort Smith region.
• Employment in the government sector was 219,100 in September, up over the 214,500 in September 2008.
• The education and health services sector posted 168,600 jobs in September, up 6.3% over the 158,500 in September 2008. Health care and social assistance posted 90% of the gain, according to DWS.
• Trade, transportation and utilities jobs numbered 232,600 in September, down 5.9% from September 2008.
September job data for the Fort Smith metro area will be available Oct. 28. The Fort Smith metro unemployment rate during August fell to 7.1%, a welcome decline from the 7.7% posted in July and the 7.8% in June.