Arkansas job growth numbers trend lower in April report

The pace of job growth in Arkansas continues to slow, with net new jobs in April up less than 1%, and the number of unemployed up more than 10%. The state’s jobless rate in April was 4.3%, unchanged from March and above 3.9% in April 2025.

Estimated nonfarm payroll jobs in April totaled 1,343,900, up 4,400 jobs or 0.33% compared with 1,339,500 in April 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report posted Friday (May 22). Net new jobs were up 11,300 in January, up 8,700 in February and up 7,000 in March. The nonfarm jobs number set a record of 1,345,900 in January.

The U.S. jobless rate in April was 4.3%, up from 4.2% in April 2025. The April numbers are preliminary and subject to revision.

The state’s labor force in April was 1,454,535, up 1.8% from 1,429,050 in April 2025. The labor force participation rate was 59.1%, up from 58.5% in April 2025. The number of unemployed was 61,835, up 10.5% compared with April 2025.

The biggest year-over-year sector gains with nonfarm employment were in Education and Health Services (3,000 more jobs), Leisure and Hospitality (2,700 more jobs), and Professional and Business Services (2,100 more jobs). The government sector shed 2,100 jobs between April 2025 and April 2026, and the manufacturing sector had 1,300 fewer jobs.

ARKANSAS JOB SECTOR NUMBERS
(nonfarm employment, seasonally adjusted)
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities
April 2026: 273,000
April 2025: 271,200
The sector posted record jobs of 275,100 in December 2025.

Education and Health Services
April 2026: 212,700
April 2025: 209,700
April employment marked a new record for the sector.

Government
April 2026: 204,400
April 2025: 206,500
The sector set a record of 220,100 in May 2010.

Professional and Business Services
April 2026: 166,300
April 2025: 164,200
April employment marked a new record for the sector.

Manufacturing
April 2026: 158,700
April 2025: 160,000
The sector set a record of 247,600 in February 1995.

Leisure and Hospitality
April 2026: 134,300
April 2025: 131,600
February employment of 135,100 marked a new record for the sector.

Financial Activities
April 2026: 59,600
April 2025: 60,000
The sector set a record of 60,200 in May 2025.

Construction
April 2026: 65,500
April 2025: 66,600
The sector set a record of 67,600 in August 2024.

NATIONAL NUMBERS
Unemployment rates were lower in April in three states, higher in two states, and stable in 45 states and the District of Columbia, according to the BLS report. Nineteen states had jobless rate increases from a year earlier, six states had decreases, and 25 states and the district had little change.

Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment decreased in one state and the district, increased in one state, and was essentially unchanged in 48 states.

South Dakota had the lowest jobless rate in April at 2.2%, followed by North Dakota at 2.4%. The District of Columbia had the highest unemployment rate at 6.2%. The next highest rates were in California, Delaware and Nevada at 5.3% each. In total, 17 states had unemployment rates lower than the U.S. figure of 4.3%, six states and the district had higher rates, and 27 states had rates that were not appreciably different from that of the nation.