Report shows declines in Arkansas new hires, job openings

Thursday’s (March 20) job openings and labor turnover report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) points to an Arkansas economy with declines in new hires and job openings and a decline in total job separations.

The closely watched federal report that provides a picture of shifts in the labor market has Arkansas with 51,000 new hires in January, down 12% compared with 58,000 in January 2024. New hires nationwide were down 3.2%.

Job openings in Arkansas during January were an estimated 76,000, down 3.8% compared with 79,000 in January 2024. Job openings nationwide were down 8.6%. Layoffs in Arkansas during January were an estimated 15,000, up 7.1% compared with 14,000 in January 2025. Layoffs nationwide were down 3.4%.

Total separations — which includes layoffs, quits, firings and “other separations” — in Arkansas during January was 50,000, down 3.8% compared with January 2024.

The BLS reported March 17 that the state’s January jobless rate was 3.6%, up from 3.4% in January 2024. The number of employed in Arkansas during January was an estimated 1,368,748, up 19,791 jobs, or 1.5%, compared with January 2024. Arkansans without jobs in January totaled 50,562, up 5.6% compared with 47,901 in January 2024.

NATIONAL NUMBERS
The number of job openings in January increased in six states, decreased in two states, and changed little in 42 states. The largest increases in the job openings level occurred in Arizona (up 53,000) and Pennsylvania (up 45,000), as well as in Massachusetts and Tennessee (up 26,000 each).

The number of hires in January decreased in 12 states, increased in five states, and changed little in 33 states. The largest decreases in the hires level occurred in Nevada (down 30,000), Washington (down 28,000), and New Jersey (down 27,000). The largest increases occurred in Texas (up 128,000), New York (up 39,000), and Tennessee (up 28,000).

The number of total separations in January increased in eight states, decreased in one state, and changed little in 41 states. The largest increases in the total separations level occurred in Colorado (up 47,000), Illinois (up 39,000), and Tennessee (up 35,000). The decrease occurred in Rhode Island (down 12,000).

The number of layoffs and discharges in January decreased in two states, increased in one state, and changed little in 47 states. The decreases in the layoffs and discharges level occurred in Florida (down 59,000) and Rhode Island (down 13,000). The increase occurred in Minnesota (up 15,000).

“Recent indicators suggest that economic activity has continued to expand at a solid pace. The unemployment rate has stabilized at a low level in recent months, and labor market conditions remain solid. Inflation remains somewhat elevated,” the Federal Reserve noted March 19 in its decision to not change the federal funds rate.