Arkansas Unemployment Rate Remains Flat, Labor Pool Still Adds 5,800 Workers

Arkansas’ jobless rate remained unchanged at 5.6% in March as the state’s growing labor pool continued to add nonfarm jobs to employers’ payrolls at the end of the first quarter. The state’s steady unemployment rate is slightly above the national average at 5.5%, which was unchanged from February and 1.1 percentage points lower than in March 2014.

“Arkansas added 5,800 employed this month, a gain of 42,900 since February 2014. Employment has steadily increased each month since December 2013,” said Becky Heflin, spokeswoman for the state Department of Workforce Services (DWS).

The Arkansas labor force data is compiled and produced by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics and released monthly by DWS. The March report included revisions to February’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate from 5.6% to 5.5%. It was previously reported at 5.6%.

As of March 2015, Arkansas’ civilian labor force gained 4,900, a result of 5,800 more employed and 900 fewer unemployed Arkansans. Nonfarm payroll jobs in Arkansas increased 10,100 in February to total 1,200,000.

The pool of workers in Arkansas has now grown to 1,321,600 workers, slightly changed from the 1.326 million in the state’s working class in February and up 2.9% from a year ago. Overall, seven major industry sectors posted employment gains, more than offsetting losses in three sectors between February and March.

Jobs in government rose 5,200 as public schools re-opened after the winter break. Leisure and hospitality added 3,500 with the majority of those jobs in accommodation and food services. Professional and business services gained 2,900 jobs as administrative and support services posted most of the growth at 2,300.

Jobs in manufacturing, however, continued to lose ground, dropping 2,100 workers from the labor pool. Most of the job losses came in nondurable goods manufacturing at 1,300, with reported losses in food manufacturing.

Compared to February 2014, Arkansas’ nonfarm payroll employment increased 28,700. Eight major industry sectors posted growth, with five adding 3,300 or more jobs, each.

Employment in leisure and hospitality rose 8,400. A majority of the gains were reported in food services at 7,000. Jobs in trade, transportation and utilities also increased by 7,200.

Growth also occurred in all subsectors. Professional and business services added 4,200 jobs. Most of the expansion occurred in administrative and support services at 2,500, which includes employment services, office administrative services, and services to building and dwellings.

Jobs in construction rose 3,800, mostly in specialty trade contractors. Educational and health services added 3,300 jobs. The largest increase occurred in health care and social assistance at 2,800.

Nationwide, the nation’s employment picture was relatively stable as regional and state unemployment rates were little changed in March. Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia had unemployment rate decreases from February, 12 states had increases, and 15 states had no change, BLS statistics show.

Compared to a year ago, 46 states and the District of Columbia had unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier, three states had increases, and one state had no change.