Central Arkansas Jobless Rate Falls Below 5%, Jonesboro Edges Higher

Central Arkansas’ jobless rate fell below five percent in June as the area’s labor pool added more than 11,000 workers to employer’s payrolls, according to the most recent figures released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The June numbers, which are subject to revisions, show the jobless rate in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway metropolitan statistical area at a tidy 4.9%, down two points from 5.1% in May and well below the 5.6% state unemployment rate in June 2014.

Metro employment during May of 329,842 was slightly below the 330,609 in April, and up 9,932 jobs compared to the 319,910 in May 2014. The size of the central Arkansas regional workforce during May was estimated at 347,509, barely above the 347,444 in April, and better than the 338,864 in May 2014.

In the Jonesboro MSA, which is home to the state’s fast-growing “Food” corridor sector, unemployment rose slightly to 5.1% in June, up from 5% in May but below the 5.9% in June 2014.

Metro employment during June of 59,583 was ahead of the 58,812 in May, and up 3,701 jobs compared to the 55,882 in June 2014. The size of the Jonesboro metro workforce during June was estimated at 62,809, up from 61,916 in May, and better than the 59,380 in June 2014.

Statewide, the Arkansas’ unemployment rate fell one-tenth of a percentage point in June as the state’s civilian labor pool grew by 200 workers, according to U.S. labor force data released a week ago by the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services.

All of the eight metro areas in or connected to Arkansas had jobless rate declines in June compared to June 2014. Only three areas (Northwest Arkansas, Hot Springs and central Arkansas) had jobless rate increases compared to May. During June, the lowest metro jobless rate in the state was 4.2% in Northwest Arkansas and the highest rate was 8% in the Pine Bluff area.

The national unemployment rate in June was 5.5%, not seasonally adjusted, down from 6.3% a year earlier. Unemployment rates were lower in June than a year earlier in 351 of the 387 metropolitan areas, higher in 28 areas, and unchanged in 8 areas, the U.S.  Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Six areas had jobless rates of less than 3% and five areas had rates of at least 10%.

Lincoln, Neb., and Fargo, N.D.-Minn., had the lowest unemployment rates in June, 2.6% and 2.8%, respectively. Yuma, Ariz., and El Centro, Calif., had the highest unemployment rates, 22.6% and 21.1%, respectively.

ARKANSAS METRO AREAS
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers
June 2015: 4.2%
May 2015: 4.3%
June 2014: 4.7%

Fort Smith
June 2015: 5.9%
May 2015: 5.9%
June 2014: 6.3%

Hot Springs
June 2015: 5.7%
May 2015: 5.9%
June 2014: 6.4%

Jonesboro
June 2015: 5.1%
May 2015: 5%
June 2014: 5.6%

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway
June 2015: 4.9%
May 2015: 5.1%
June 2014: 5.6%

Memphis-West Memphis
June 2015: 7%
May 2015: 6.6%
June 2014: 8.1%

Pine Bluff
June 2015: 8%
May 2015: 7.8%
June 2014: 8.8%

Texarkana
June 2015: 5.1%
May 2015: 5%
June 2014: 6.4%