Fewer employed, but state jobless rate falls to 7.1%

BusinessFort SmithNews on the WireNorthwest Arkansas

by The City Wire staff ([email protected]) May 17, 2013 12:28 pm 105 views 

The number of unemployed in Arkansas fell by almost 3,800 in April but the size of Arkansas’ workforce and the number of employed continues to move in the wrong direction.

Arkansas’ jobless rate was 7.1% in April, down from March and just slightly below the 7.3% in April 2012, according to the Friday (May 17) report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

April marks 51 consecutive months that Arkansas’ jobless rate has been at or above 7%. April also continued a trend in which the jobless rate improves but declines in the size of the workforce and number of employed point to ongoing weakness in Arkansas’ economy.

The number of employed in Arkansas during April was down an estimated 27,531 compared to April 2012, but the number of unemployed fell from 98,937 in April 2012 to an estimated 95,154 in April 2013.

The workforce size shrank from an estimated 1.362 million in April 2012 to 1.33 million in April.

Arkansas’ annual average jobless rate fell from 7.9% during 2011 to 7.3% during 2012.

ARKANSAS SECTOR NUMBERS
In the Trade, Transportation and Utilities sector — Arkansas’ largest job sector — employment during April was an estimated 252,200, up from March number and ahead of the 242,000 during April 2012.

Manufacturing jobs in Arkansas during April totaled 155,600, down from the 155,800 in March and below the 156,500 in April 2012. Employment in the once booming manufacturing sector fell in 2012 to levels not seen since early 1968. Peak employment in the sector was 247,300 in April 1995.

Government job employment during April was 216,000, up from 215,800 in March and below the 216,400 during April 2012.

The state’s Education and Health Services sector during April had 175,600 jobs, up from the 175,400 during March and up from 171,300 during April 2012. Employment in the sector is up more than 25% compared to April 2003.

Arkansas’ tourism sector (leisure & hospitality) employed 102,300 during April, up from the 101,600 during March and less than the 102,900 during April 2012. At a revised 103,700, January 2013 marked a new employment high in the sector.

The construction sector employed an estimated 46,400 during April, up slightly from the 46,300 during March and below the 48,200 during April 2012. Employment in the sector is down almost 14% from April 2003.