Metro Jobless Rates Spike In January

Six of the eight metro areas in or connected to Arkansas had jobless rate increases in January compared to December, and had jobless rate declines compared to January 2012. The Memphis-West Memphis area and the Pine Bluff area had jobless rate increases in January compared to December and January 2012.

During January, the lowest metro jobless rate in the state was in Northwest Arkansas with 5.9% and the highest rate was 10.5% in the Pine Bluff area.

Unemployment rates were lower in January than a year earlier in 227 of the 372 metropolitan areas, higher in 124 areas, and unchanged in 21 areas, noted the broad BLS report.

The U.S. unemployment rate in January was 7.9%, down from 8.3% from a year earlier. Arkansas’ jobless rate was 7.2% in January, up from 7.1% in December and below the 7.4% rate in January 2012.

Oklahoma’s jobless rate during January was 5.1%, unchanged from December, and below the 5.4% during January 2012. The Missouri jobless rate during January was 6.5%, compared to 6.6% in December and 7.3% during January 2012.

ARKANSAS METRO AREAS
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers
Jan. 2013: 5.9%
Dec. 2012: 5.1%
Jan. 2012: 6.3%

Fort Smith
Jan. 2013: 8.7%
Dec. 2012: 8.1%
Jan. 2012: 8.9%

Hot Springs
Jan. 2013: 8.4%
Dec. 2012: 7.5%
Jan. 2012: 8.5%

Jonesboro
Jan. 2013: 7.8%
Dec. 2012: 6.8%
Jan. 2012: 8.1%

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway
Jan. 2013: 7.1%
Dec. 2012: 6.3%
Jan. 2012: 7.2%

Memphis-West Memphis
Jan. 2013: 9.7%
Dec. 2012: 8.6%
Jan. 2012: 9.4%

Pine Bluff
Jan. 2013: 10.5%
Dec. 2012: 9%
Jan. 2012: 10.4%

Texarkana
Jan. 2013: 7.2%
Dec. 2012: 5.7%
Jan. 2012: 7.5%