Government job growth helps Arkansas jobless rate fall to 8%

Arkansas’ jobless rate fell to 8% during November, with the number of unemployed falling by an estimated 3,219, according to figures released Tuesday (Dec. 20) by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The November rate was higher than the November 2010 rate of 7.9%, and the November 2009 rate of 7.8%. The November rate marks the 33rd consecutive month the Arkansas jobless rate has been above 7%, and the sixth consecutive month the rate has been at or above 8%.

The state’s manufacturing sector saw a respite from job losses, with the sector employing 155,100 during November, up from a revised 153,700 in October, but down from 159,800 in November 2010. The manufacturing sector, once Arkansas’ largest, reached a peak of 247,400 jobs in February 1995. Manufacturing employment is now at numbers not seen since the mid-1960s.

The number of employed in Arkansas during November was 1.256 million, up from the 1.246 million during October, and above the 1.251 million during November 2010. The number of unemployed during November was 108,544, below the 111,763 during October and above the 106,862 during November 2010.

As is standard, state officials focused on the monthly gain in jobs.

“The number of employed Arkansans increased for the third consecutive month. The gain of 10,000 employed in November was a significant factor in the unemployment rate’s decline. There are 4,800 more employed Arkansas residents than in November 2010.” noted Kimberly Friedman, communications director for the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services, referring to the seasonally adjusted numbers used by the state and not the figures released by the BLS.

Arkansas was one of just five states to post an unemployment rate increase in November compared to November 2010, according the BLS report. The report noted that 45 states posted jobless rate decreases compared to November 2010.

SECTOR JOBS
• In the state’s Trade, Transportation and Utilities sector — Arkansas’ largest job sector — employment during November was an estimated 233,600, down from 235,600 during November  2010.

• Employment in the government sector, now the second-largest jobs sector in Arkansas, during November was 220,000, higher than the 216,000 during November 2010.

• Arkansas’ Education and Health Services sector — the third-largest jobs sector —employed 170,600 during November, up over the 167,300 during November 2010.

• The Leisure and Hospitality sector (business and tourism travel industry) employed 105,500 during November, up from 104,200 during November 2010.

• The construction sector employed an estimated 47,600 during November, up compared to 47,300 during November 2010.

The Oklahoma jobless rate was 6.1% in November, unchanged from October, and down from 6.9% during November 2010. The U.S. rate during November was 8.6%, down from 9% in October and down from 9.8% in November 2010.