State jobless rate up to 8.2%

BusinessFort SmithNews on the Wire

by The City Wire staff ([email protected]) August 19, 2011 10:11 am 59 views 

Arkansas’ jobless rate increased to an estimated 8.2% in July, up from 8.1% in June, and up from 7.8% in July 2010.

The rate is the highest seen since April 1987, and marks the 29th consecutive month the Arkansas jobless rate has been above 7%.

Arkansas was one of seven states to post an unemployment rate increase in July compared to July 2010.

Pushing the rate higher was an increase of 1,439 in the number of unemployed (110,808) during July compared to June. The July unemployment number is also 5.43% higher than July 2010, according to a federal Bureau of Labor Statistics report released Friday (Aug. 19).

The number of employed in Arkansas during July fell 7,426 jobs to an estimated 1.238 million compared to June 2011. Also, the number of jobs in July was down compared to the 1.244 million in July 2010.

The July numbers are estimates and subject to revision.

State officials said the July increase is not a surprise because the historical trend shows an uptick during the summer month.

Despite the bad numbers, some Arkansas sectors posted gains in July. Education and Health Services jobs rose from 167,100 in June to 168,000 in July; Leisure & Hospitality jobs rose from 104,200 in June to 106,400 in July; and construction jobs rose from 46,900 in June to 48,700 in July.

The manufacturing sector posted 155,900 jobs in July, down from 157,300 in June and down 161,200 in July 2010.

The trade, transportation and utilities sector had an estimated 235,900 jobs in July, down from 236,700 in June and up from the 235,400 in July 2010.

The Oklahoma jobless rate was 5.5% in July, up from 5.4% in June, and down from the 7% in July 2010. The U.S. rate during July was 9.1%, up from 9.2% in June and down from 9.5% in July 2010.

“Over the year, 24 states experienced statistically significant changes in employment, 23 of which were increases. The largest increase occurred in Texas (+269,500), followed by California (+189,600), New York (+106,600), and Ohio (+74,100). The only state with an over-the-year statistically significant decrease was Indiana (-28,300),” noted the BLS report.