Majority Of Metro Area Jobless Figures Rise

Six of the eight metro areas in or connected to Arkansas had jobless rate increases in October compared to October 2012, and five areas had jobless rate increases compared to September.

During October, the lowest metro jobless rate in the state was in Northwest Arkansas with 5.1% and the highest rate was 9.6% in the Pine Bluff area.

The October report marked the 15th consecutive month that the region’s jobless rate has been at or below 6%.

ARKANSAS METRO AREAS
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers
Oct. 2013: 5.1%
Sept. 2013: 5.2%
Oct. 2012: 5%

Fort Smith
Oct. 2013: 7.3%
Sept. 2013: 7.2%
Oct. 2012: 7.5%

Hot Springs
Oct. 2013: 7.8%
Sept. 2013: 7.6%
Oct. 2012: 6.9%

Jonesboro
Oct. 2013: 6.4%
Sept. 2013: 6.4%
Oct. 2012: 6.4%

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway
Oct. 2013: 6.5%
Sept. 2013: 6.4%
Oct. 2012: 5.9%

Memphis-West Memphis
Oct. 2013: 9.5%
Sept. 2013: 9.4%
Oct. 2012: 8.6%

Pine Bluff
Oct. 2013: 9.6%
Sept. 2013: 9.4%
Oct. 2012: 8.5%

Texarkana
Oct. 2013: 7%
Sept. 2013: 7.3%
Oct. 2012: 6.2%

CENTRAL ARKANSAS
The size of the central Arkansas regional workforce during October was estimated at 341,318, up from the 339,984 during September, but below the 346,437 during October 2012. The average annual monthly labor size was 345,930 during 2012, 343,648 during 2011 and 342,228 during 2010.

Unemployed persons in the region totaled 22,024 during October, above the 21,907 during September and above the 20,460 during October 2012.

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
The size of the Northwest Arkansas regional workforce during October was estimated at 240,112, down from the 240,837 during September, and ahead of the 236,845 during October 2012. June was the first month the region’s workforce has topped 240,000. The average annual monthly labor size was 231,461 during 2012, 229,950 during 2011, 226,593 during 2010 and 224,336 during 2009.

FORT SMITH
The size of the Fort Smith regional workforce during October was 133,430, down from the 133,460 during September, and above the 133,231 during October 2012. The labor force reached a revised high of 140,253 in September 2007. The average annual monthly labor size was 133,028 during 2012, 133,275 during 2011, 135,590 during 2010, 134,751 and during 2009.

Unemployed persons in the region totaled an estimated 9,705 during October, up from the 9,705 during September, and below the 10,0032 during October 2012.

JONESBORO
The size of the Jonesboro regional workforce during October was estimated at 60,293, down from the 60,385 during September, and above the 59,842 during October 2012. The average annual monthly labor size was 59,782 during 2012, 59,240 during 2011 and 57,873 during 2010.

Unemployed persons in the region totaled 3,886 during October, above the 3,817 during September and above the 3,875 during October 2012.

NATIONAL NUMBERS
Unemployment rates were lower in October than a year earlier in 280 of the 372 metropolitan areas, higher in 79 areas, and unchanged in 13 areas, noted the broad BLS report.

The U.S. unemployment rate in October was 7.3%, down from 7.9% from a year earlier. Arkansas’ jobless rate was 7.5% in October, up from 7.4% in September and up from 7.2% in October 2012.

Oklahoma’s jobless rate during October was 5.5%, up from 5.4% in September, and up from 5.2% in October 2012. The Missouri jobless rate during October was 6.5%, down from 6.9% in September and down from 6.7% in October 2012.