Arkansas Metro Jobless Rates Down In August

The good news is that all eight eight metro areas in or connected to Arkansas saw a jobless rate decline in August compared to July, but seven of the metro areas saw a jobless rate increase in August compared to August 2010.

The rates in Wednesday’s (Sept. 28) report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics are preliminary and subject to change.

During August, the lowest metro jobless rate was 6.6% in Northwest Arkansas and the highest rate was 10.4% in Pine Bluff. The number of unemployed in Northwest Arkansas metro area during August was 14,812, down from the 15,582 in July and below the 14,877 in August 2010.

Arkansas’ jobless rate in August was 8.3%, up from 8.2% in July and up from 7.8% in August 2010. The U.S. rate during August was 9.1%, unchanged from July and down from 9.6% in August 2010.

NATIONAL NUMBERS
Unemployment rates were lower in August than a year earlier in 262 of the 372 metropolitan areas, higher in 84 areas (Compared to higher in 94 areas in July and 127 areas in June), and unchanged in 26 areas, noted the BLS report. Also, nine areas recorded jobless rates of at least 15%, while 10 areas registered rates of less than 5%.

ARKANSAS METRO AREAS
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers
Aug. 2011: 6.6%
July 2011: 6.9%
Aug. 2010: 6.5%

Fort Smith
Aug. 2011: 7.9%
July 2011: 8.3%
Aug. 2010: 7.9%

Hot Springs
Aug. 2011: 7.8%
July 2011: 7.9%
Aug. 2010: 8.1%

Jonesboro
Aug. 2011: 7.6%
July 2011: 8%
Aug. 2010: 7.4%

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway
Aug. 2011: 7.2%
July 2011: 7.5%
Aug. 2010: 7.1%

Memphis-West Memphis
Aug. 2011: 10.3%
July 2011: 10.4%
Aug. 2010: 9.8%

Pine Bluff
Aug. 2011: 10.4%
July 2011: 10.9%
Aug. 2010: 9.6%

Texarkana
Aug. 2011: 8.0%
July 2011: 8.1%
Aug. 2010: 7.8%

Michael Tilley with our content partner, The City Wire, is the author of this report. He can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].