State jobless rate remains at 7.8%

Arkansas’ unemployment rate was 7.8% in March, the third consecutive month for the rate level, with the number of employed moving up to 1.263 million. The Arkansas jobless rate in March marks the 25th consecutive month above 7%.

The number of unemployed increased slightly from 106,090 in February to an estimated 106,180 during March, according to figures released Tuesday (April 19) by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Oklahoma jobless rate was 6.1%, down from 6.5% in February, and down from the 7.3% in March 2010. The U.S. rate during February was 8.8%.

“Arkansas’ unemployment rate has remained stable at 7.8 percent since January 2011. Employment continues to steadily grow each month, with 19,100 more employed than in March 2010,” Kimberly Friedman, spokeswoman for the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services, said in a statement.

Arkansas’ total nonfarm employment rolls added 3,200 jobs between February and March, settling at 1.172 million. The March figure is 17,500 jobs above the 1.155 million in March 2010, but 1,800 jobs below March 2009. The state’s nonfarm employment is down 37,100 jobs since the peak of 1.210 million in February 2008.

Employment in Arkansas’ manufacturing sector increased to an estimated 157,500 jobs in March from a revised 156,800 in February. The job level is below the 159,600 in March 2010. The manufacturing sector in Arkansas has lost 74,800 jobs in the past 10 years (March 2001-March 2011), or 32.19% of sector employment.

SECTOR NOTES
• Construction and construction-related jobs increased to 47,900 in March compared to 45,500 in February. The estimate is below the 48,800 in March 2010. The job count is 9,600 below the peak of 57,500 first reached in February 2006.

• Jobs in the Trade, Transportation and Utilities sector — the state’s largest sector — was estimated at 238,100 in March, up from a revised 237,700 in February and up over the 233,200 in March 2010. The sector is down just 100 jobs compared to March 2009.

• The Professional & Business services sector lost an estimated 800 jobs in March to settle at 121,400. The sector employed 116,300 in March 2010.

• The state’s tourism sector — Leisure & Hospitality jobs — increased to 102,700 jobs in March. The sector employed 101,600 in March, and 98,100 in March 2010.

• The government sector saw jobs fall to 215,600 in March, compared to 216,200 in February. The March employment was down from 217,100 in March 2010.

NATIONAL STATS
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, 7 states recorded unemployment rate increases, 34 states registered rate decreases, and 9 states had no rate change compared to March 2010.

Nevada continued to register the highest unemployment rate among the states, with 13.2% in March, down from 13.6% in February. The states with the next highest rates were California (12%) and Florida (11.1%).

North Dakota reported the lowest jobless rate, 3.6%, followed by Nebraska and South Dakota, 4.2% and 4.9%, respectively.