Metro Unemployment Rates Produce Mixed Results In February

Unemployment rates in the state’s major metropolitan areas produced mixed results in February.

Four of the eight metro areas in or connected to Arkansas had jobless rate increases in February compared to January, with one metro area unchanged and three with lower jobless rates. Two of the eight metro areas posted jobless rates higher than February 2011, with four posting lower rates and two unchanged.

During February, the lowest metro jobless rate was 6.4% in Northwest Arkansas and the highest rate was 10.3% in Pine Bluff.

NATIONAL NUMBERS
Unemployment rates were lower in February than a year earlier in 344 of the 372 metropolitan areas, higher in 19 areas, and unchanged in 9 areas, noted a report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Also, 13 areas recorded jobless rates of at least 15%, while 12 areas registered rates of less than 5%.

The U.S. unemployment rate in February was 8.3%, down from 8.9% from a year earlier.

ARKANSAS METRO AREAS
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers
Feb. 2012: 6.4%
Jan. 2012: 6.3%
Feb. 2011: 6.7%

Fort Smith
Feb. 2012: 9.1%
Jan. 2012: 8.9%
Feb. 2011: 9.1%

Hot Springs
Feb. 2012: 8.8%
Jan. 2012: 8.5%
Feb. 2011: 8.8%

Jonesboro
Feb. 2012: 8.1%
Jan. 2012: 8.1%
Feb. 2011: 7.9%

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway
Feb. 2012: 7.4%
Jan. 2012: 7.2%
Feb. 2011: 7.1%

Memphis-West Memphis
Feb. 2012: 9.2%
Jan. 2012: 9.4%
Feb. 2011: 10.4%

Pine Bluff
Feb. 2012: 10.3%
Jan. 2012: 10.4%
Feb. 2011: 10.4%

Texarkana
Feb. 2012: 7.1%
Jan. 2012: 7.5%
Feb. 2011: 7.5%

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