Arkansas’ June jobless rate at 3.3%, above 3% in June 2023

Federal data posted Friday (July 19) shows a more than 10% year-over-year increase in the number of unemployed in Arkansas, with the state’s June jobless rate at 3.3%, above the 3% in June 2023. The state unemployment rate was 3.4% in May 2024.

The number of employed in Arkansas during June was an estimated 1,349,861, up 13,496 jobs, or 1%, compared with June 2023, and above the 1,344,233 in May, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report posted Friday (July 19). The June numbers are preliminary and subject to revision.

Arkansas’ labor force, the number of people eligible to work, in June was 1,396,376, up 1.3% from the 1,378,338 in June 2023, and above the 1,391,170 in May. The state’s labor force participation rate in June was 57.7%, up from 57.6% in June 2023.

Arkansans without jobs in June totaled 46,515, down marginally from the 46,937 in May, and up 10.8% compared with the 41,973 in June 2023.

The biggest year-over-year sector gains were in Education and Health Services (9,600 more jobs) Professional and Business Services (6,400 more jobs, and Construction (4,700 more jobs).

NATIONAL NUMBERS
Unemployment rates were higher in June in 8 states, lower in 1 state, and stable in 41 states. Thirty-one states had jobless rate increases from a year earlier, 2 states had decreases, and 17 states had little change.

Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 8 states and was essentially unchanged in 42 states in June 2024. Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 27 states and was essentially unchanged in 23 states.

South Dakota had the lowest jobless rate in June at 2%, followed by North Dakota and Vermont at 2.1% each. The rate in Arizona, 3.3%, set a new series low. (All state series begin in 1976.) The District of Columbia had the highest unemployment rate at 5.4%, followed by California and Nevada at 5.2% each.

In total, 26 states had unemployment rates lower than the U.S. figure of 4.1%, 4 states had higher rates, and 20 states had rates that were not appreciably different from that of the nation.

JOB SECTOR NUMBERS
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities
June 2024: 270,200
May 2024: 268,800
June 2023: 267,900
June marked an employment record for the sector.

Government
June 2024: 213,100
May 2024: 212,800
June 2023: 210,200
Sector employment hit a peak of 224,100 in May 2010.

Education and Health Services
June 2024: 216,700
May 2024: 213,600
June 2023: 207,100
June marked an employment record for the sector.

Manufacturing
June 2024: 161,800
May 2024: 161,400
June 2023: 163,800
Manufacturing, once the state’s largest jobs sector, posted record employment of 247,600 in February 1995.

Professional and Business Services
June 2024: 161,800
May 2024: 159,100
June 2023: 155,400
May marked an employment record for the sector.

Leisure and Hospitality
June 2024: 128,100
May 2024: 128,900
June 2023: 127,000
March marked an employment record for the sector with 130,200 jobs.

Financial Activities
June 2024: 71,300
May 2024: 70,900
June 2023: 70,200
June marked an employment record for the sector.

Construction
June 2024: 68,200
May 2024: 67,600
June 2023: 63,500
June marked a new employment record for the sector.