Many County Unemployment Rates Rise In May, But All 75 Still In Single Digits

The unemployment rate for many of Arkansas’ 75 counties gradually went up in May, with nearly a third of the state seeing small increases compared to April numbers.

However, a further look at the unemployment rates so far this year showed a possible positive trend.

The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics released the countywide numbers for May over the 4th of July weekend. The numbers showed nine counties in the 4% range and another 23 counties in the 5% range, records showed.

Washington County had the lowest unemployment rate in the state at 4.2%, up from 3.8% in April. Benton County was second at 4.3%, followed by Arkansas and Madison counties tied for third at 4.4%. Carroll County was fifth at 4.6%.

The highest unemployment rate in the state for May was in Mississippi County, with 9.5% (up from 9.2% in April). The second highest number was in Chicot County at 9.2%.

Still, no county in Arkansas had double-digit unemployment during the month.

METRO AREAS
The counties where the state’s largest cities are located saw an uptick.

Craighead County had a 4.9% rate in May, up from 4.6% in April. The same was true for Saline County with a 4.8% rate, also up from 4.6%.

Faulkner County had a gradual increase, going from 5.0% in April to 5.3% in May.

Pulaski County also saw a small increase, going from 4.9% in April to 5.1% in May. Garland County had a 5.9% unemployment rate, up from 5.6% in April.

To the east, the unemployment rate for Lonoke County was 4.7%, a small increase from 4.5% in April. To the south in Jefferson County, the unemployment rate was 8%, up from a 7.6% rate in April.

Greene County bucked the trend with a 5.4% unemployment rate, down from 5.5% in April.

YEAR-TO-DATE
While the numbers from May showed increases, the vast majority of the state has seen decreases in the unemployment rate.

Comparing January to May 2015 numbers, 72 of the state’s 75 counties have seen drops in the unemployment rate.

Only two counties – Logan (from 6.4% to 6.8% and Scott from 5.3% to 5.7%) – have seen increases while Clark County remained the same at 6.8%.

Of the 72 counties, 39 of them saw at least a 1% drop while five counties saw at least a 3% drop, numbers showed.

The biggest drops were in Carroll, which went from 7.8% in January to 4.6% in May; Chicot, which went from 12.5% in January to 9.2% in May; Jackson, which went from 11.3% to 8.1%; Randolph, which went from 10.4% to 7.2% and Sevier, which went from 9.6% to 6.1%.

The June 2015 unemployment numbers will be released July 21.