Arkansas net job gains up 2.6% in December, jobless rate rises to 3.4%

Year-over-year gains in the size of the workforce and number of jobs in December resulted in a jobless rate of 3.4%, below the 3.7% in December 2023. The state’s jobless rate ticked higher from the 3.3% in November.

The number of employed in Arkansas during December was an estimated 1,368,644, up 34,626 jobs, or 2.6%, compared with December 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report posted Tuesday (Jan. 28). The December numbers are preliminary and subject to revision.

Arkansas’ labor force, the number of people eligible to work, in December was 1,416,352, up 2.3% from the 1,384,754 in December 2023. The state’s labor force participation rate in December was 58.2%, up from 57.6% in December 2023.

Arkansans without jobs in December totaled 47,708, down 6% compared with the 50,736 in December 2023.

The biggest year-over-year sector gains were in Education and Health Services (11,000 more jobs), Professional and Business services (5,400 more jobs), and Manufacturing (3,600 more jobs).

NATIONAL NUMBERS
Unemployment rates were higher in December in 6 states, lower in 2 states, and stable in 42 states, according to the BLS report. Twenty-seven states had jobless rate gains from a year earlier, 6 states had decreases, and 17 states had little change. The U.S. unemployment rate changed little over the month at 4.1% but was 0.3 percentage point higher than in December 2023.

Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 2 states and was essentially unchanged in 48 states in December 2024. Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 33 states and was essentially unchanged in 17 states.

South Dakota had the lowest jobless rate in December at 1.9%. Nevada had the highest rate at 5.7%, followed by California at 5.5%. In total, 21 states had unemployment rates lower than the U.S. rate of 4.1%, 5 states had higher rates, and 24 states had rates that were not appreciably different from that of the nation.

JOB SECTOR NUMBERS
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities
December 2024: 269,100
December 2023: 268,200
September marked a new employment record for the sector with 270,800 jobs.

Government
December 2024: 213,200
December 2023: 211,600
Sector employment hit a peak of 224,100 in May 2010.

Education and Health Services
December 2024: 222,100
December 2023: 211,100
November marked an employment record for the sector with 222,800 jobs.

Manufacturing
December 2024: 163,500
December 2023: 159,900
Manufacturing, once the state’s largest jobs sector, posted record employment of 247,600 in February 1995.

Professional and Business Services
December 2024: 160,400
December 2023: 155,000
June marked an employment record for the sector with 160,900 jobs.

Leisure and Hospitality
December 2024: 129,300
December 2023: 126,600
March marked an employment record for the sector with 130,200 jobs.

Financial Activities
December 2024: 71,200
December 2023: 70,900
July first marked an employment record for the sector at 71,900.

Construction
December 2024: 66,800
December 2023: 66,100
February first marked an employment record for the sector with 68,000 jobs.