October Metro Jobless Numbers Higher Than One Year Ago

Six of the eight eight metro areas in or connected to Arkansas saw a jobless rate increases during October compared to October 2010, with Hot Springs (7.3%) and Northwest Arkansas (5.9%) unchanged from October 2010. Fortunately, all eight of the metro areas posted jobless rate declines compared to September.

The rates in Tuesday’s (Dec. 6) report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics are preliminary and subject to change.

During October, the lowest metro jobless rate was 5.9% in Northwest Arkansas and the highest rate was 10% in Memphis-West Memphis. The number of unemployed in the Northwest Arkansas metro area during September was 14,338, above the 13,980 during September 2010.

Arkansas’ jobless rate in October was 8.2%, down from 8.3% during September and up from 7.9% in October 2010. The U.S. rate during October was 9%, down from 9.7% in October 2010.

Unemployment rates were lower in October than a year earlier in 281 of the 372 metropolitan areas, higher in 76 areas, and unchanged in 15 areas, noted the BLS report. Also, eight areas recorded jobless rates of at least 15%, while 21 areas registered rates of less than 5%.

ARKANSAS METRO AREAS
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers
Oct. 2011: 5.9%
Sept. 2011: 6.3%
Oct. 2010: 5.9%

Fort Smith
Oct. 2011: 7.9%
Sept. 2011: 8%
Oct. 2010: 7.7%

Hot Springs
Oct. 2011: 7.3%
Sept. 2011: 7.7%
Oct. 2010: 7.3%

Jonesboro
Oct. 2011: 6.9%
Sept. 2011: 7.4%
Oct. 2010: 6.8%

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway
Oct. 2011: 6.8%
Sept. 2011: 7.1%
Oct. 2010: 6.4%

Memphis-West Memphis
Oct. 2011: 10%
Sept. 2011: 10.4%
Oct. 2010: 9.6%

Pine Bluff
Oct. 2011: 9.5%
Sept. 2011: 10.1%
Oct. 2010: 8.8%

Texarkana
Oct. 2011: 7.4%
Sept. 2011: 7.8%
Oct. 2010: 7.1%

Michael Tilley with our content partner, The City Wire, is the author of this report. He can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].