Report Highlights Springdale Job Creation
A new study says Springdale continues to be a state leader in job creation.
According to the Arkansas Tech Business Index, Springdale leads all cities with a labor market rating of 109.49. It notes Springdale employed 33,117 and had an unemployment rate of 5.0 percent, which is significantly lower than the state’s February unemployment rate of 7.5 percent and the national rate of 7.7 percent.
The Index uses Arkansas Department of Workforce Services data compiled for the month of February.
The ATBI, which ranks 16 cities in Arkansas based on economic activity, considers a 100 rating to be the state average. Ratings then are referenced as better or worse than the state average.
In the Index’s labor market report, Springdale, which enjoyed a 105.65 labor market rating in February 2013, has experienced a 3.84 percent increase in one year’s time. Bentonville (104.86), Texarkana (102.54), Russellville (102.52) and El Dorado (102.36) round out the top five.
Of the top five cities, only Springdale showed a rating increase in the last 12 months.
The state’s worst five labor market indices were Searcy (71.47), West Memphis (96.65), Little Rock (95.76), Pine Bluff (97.96) and Conway (98.53).