Arkansas sees drop in July new hires, gain in job openings

A federal report issued Tuesday (Sept. 17) showed a gain in July job openings in Arkansas, but included an almost 20% drop in hires and a more than 14% increase in layoffs and discharges. The drop in hires was significantly higher than the national rate.

Arkansas job openings in July totaled an estimated 72,000, up 2.8% compared with the 70,000 in July 2023, and better than the national decline of 12.8%. However, the July hires number is down from 78,000 in June, 88,000 in May, and 86,000 in April, according to the report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The July report is preliminary and subject to revision.

Arkansas new hires were an estimated 42,000 in July, down 19.2% compared with 52,000 in July 2023. U.S. new hires fell 3.7% in July. The July hires was also down from 61,000 in June, 59,000 in May, and 59,000 in April.

Arkansas layoffs and discharges in July were an estimated 16,000, up 14.3% from the 14,000 in July 2023. The U.S. figure was up 3.8%. The estimated number of quits in July were 33,000, down 2.9% compared with the 34,000 in July 2023. The number of quits nationwide was down 9.3%.

The number of employed in Arkansas during July was an estimated 1,354,671, up 18,622 jobs, or 1.4%, compared with July 2023, and above the 1,349,753 in June, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report posted Aug. 16.

NATIONAL NUMBERS
The number of job openings decreased in 6 states, increased in 3 states, and was little changed in 41 states and the District of Columbia in July compared with the previous month. The largest decreases in the job openings level occurred in New York (down 91,000), Minnesota ( down 41,000), and Massachusetts (down 37,000). The increases occurred in Virginia (up 28,000) and in Louisiana and Oklahoma (up 14,000 each).

The number of hires increased in 6 states, decreased in 1 state, and was little changed in 43 states and the District of Columbia in July compared with the previous month. The largest increases in the hires level occurred in California (up 119,000), Pennsylvania (up 38,000), and Michigan (up 29,000). The decrease occurred in Arkansas (down 19,000).

The number of layoffs and discharges increased in 9 states, decreased in 1 state, and was little changed in 40 states and the District of Columbia in July compared with the previous month. The largest increases in the layoffs and discharges level occurred in Virginia (up 30,000), Pennsylvania (up 29,000), and Michigan (up 16,000). The decrease occurred in Oklahoma (down 9,000). Pennsylvania (up 29,000), and Michigan (up 16,000). The decrease occurred in Oklahoma (down 9,000).

The number of quits increased in 7 states, decreased in 4 states, and was little changed in 39 states and the District of Columbia in July compared with the previous month. The largest increases in the quits level occurred in Florida (up 63,000), Virginia (up 23,000), and Pennsylvania (up 22,000). The largest decreases occurred in Texas (down 45,000), New York (down 32,000), and Illinois (down 29,000).