Arkansas’ workforce, number of employed continues decline in August report

There are an estimated 28,614 fewer Arkansans in the workforce and 8,434 fewer Arkansans employed in August compared to August 2013. The August jobless rate was 6.3%, up from 6.2% in July and lower than the 7.7% in August 2013.

The August numbers, released Friday (Sept. 19) by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, continue the trend of a declining workforce and a fewer employed Arkansans. The August report is subject to revision.

Arkansas’ labor force was an estimated 1.296 million in August, below the 1.298 million in July, and down 2.15% compared to 1.324 million in August 2013. There are 71,268 fewer Arkansans in the labor force compared to the peak (1.367 million) in May 2008, a decline of 5.2%.

The number of employed in Arkansas during August was 1.214 million, below July employment of 1.217 million, and down an estimated 8,434 jobs compared to August 2013.

The number of unemployed was an estimated 81,827 during August, up from the 81,094 in July, and well below the 102,007 in August 2013.

Arkansas’ annual average jobless rate fell from 7.9% during 2011 to a revised 7.5% during 2012. The initial annual average jobless rate for Arkansas during 2013 is 7.5%.

Despite the decline in the key labor figures, Arkansas’ tourism sector reached a new record for employment. Arkansas’ tourism sector (leisure & hospitality) employed 109,200 during August, up from 108,800 during July, and above the 105,000 during August 2013. Employment in this sector previously reached a high of 109,100 in March.

ARKANSAS SECTOR NUMBERS
In the Trade, Transportation and Utilities sector — Arkansas’ largest job sector — employment during August was an estimated 243,500, up from 242,300 in July and ahead of the 241,200 during August 2013. Employment in the sector hit a high of 251,800 in March 2007.

Manufacturing jobs in Arkansas during August totaled 155,600, unchanged compared to July and above the 151,900 in August 2013. Employment in the manufacturing sector fell in 2013 to levels not seen since early 1968. Peak employment in the sector was 247,300 in February 1995.

Government job employment during August was 214,800, down from 215,900 in July and below the 215,600 during August 2013.

The state’s Education and Health Services sector during August had 174,600 jobs, up from 174,200 during July and up from 171,600 during August 2013. Employment in the sector is up 22.2% compared to August 2004.

The construction sector employed an estimated 47,600 in August, up from 47,400 in July and above the 44,700 in August 2013. The sector is off the employment high of 57,600 reached in March 2007.

NATIONAL, REGIONAL DATA

The BLS report also noted that 45 states had unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier, three states had increases and two states had no change. The national jobless rate during August was 6.2%, and was down from the 7.3% in August 2013.

Georgia had the highest unemployment rate among the states in August at 8.1%. North Dakota again had the lowest jobless rate at 2.8%.

The August jobless rate in Oklahoma was 4.7%, up from 4.6% in July and down from 5.6% in August 2013.

Missouri’s jobless rate during August was 6.3%, down from 6.5% in July and down from 6.6% in August 2013.