Metro Jobless Rates Decline Across Arkansas In September

All of the eight metro areas in or connected to Arkansas had jobless rate declines in September compared to August, and were all down compared to September 2011.

During September, the lowest metro jobless rate was in Northwest Arkansas with 4.9% and the highest rate was 8.4% in the Memphis/West Memphis metro.

The Northwest Arkansas metro area fell below a 5% jobless rate for the first time since November 2008. The central Arkansas metro area fell below 6% for the time since December 2008.

ARKANSAS METRO AREAS
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers
Sept. 2012: 4.9%
Aug. 2012: 5.3%
Sept. 2011: 6%

Fort Smith
Sept. 2012: 7.6%
Aug. 2012: 7.9%
Sept. 2011: 8.4%

Hot Springs
Sept. 2012: 6.8%
Aug. 2012: 7.3%
Sept. 2011: 7.9%

Jonesboro
Sept. 2012: 6.4%
Aug. 2012: 6.6%
Sept. 2011: 7.3%

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway
Sept. 2012: 5.9%
Aug. 2012: 6.3%
Sept. 2011: 6.9%

Memphis-West Memphis
Sept. 2012: 8.4%
Aug. 2012: 8.9%
Sept. 2011: 10%

Pine Bluff
Sept. 2012: 8.2%
Aug. 2012: 8.8%
Sept. 2011: 9.9%

Texarkana
Sept. 2012: 6.1%
Aug. 2012: 6.7%
Sept. 2011: 7.5%

NATIONAL NUMBERS
Unemployment rates were lower in September than a year earlier in 345 of the 372 metropolitan areas, higher in 22 areas, and unchanged in 5 areas, noted the broad BLS report. Also, 35 areas recorded jobless rates of at least 10%, while 171 areas registered rates of less than 7%.

The U.S. unemployment rate in September was 7.8%, down from 9% from a year earlier.

Arkansas’ jobless rate was 7.1% in September, down from 7.3% in August and below the 8.1% rate in September 2011.