Arkansas job numbers up 0.7% in February, jobless rate rises

A more than 3% gain in tourism jobs and an almost 2% gain in health care jobs helped with a gain of 9,100 estimated new Arkansas jobs in February compared with February 2025. However, the state’s jobless rate in February was 4.4%, up from 3.8% in February 2025.

Estimated nonfarm payroll jobs in February totaled 1,345,800, up 9,100 jobs, or 0.7% compared with 1,336,700 in February 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report posted Wednesday (April 22). The nonfarm jobs number set a record of 1,345,900 in January. The U.S. jobless rate in February was 4.4%, up from 4.2% in February 2025. The February numbers are preliminary and subject to revision.

The state’s labor force in January was 1,454,559, up from 1,426,309 in February 2025, and a new record. The labor force participation rate was 59.2%, up from 58.5% in February 2025. The number of unemployed was 63,362, up 15.4% compared with February 2025.

The biggest year-over-year sector gains with nonfarm employment were in Leisure and Hospitality (4,100 more jobs), Education and Health Services (3,700 more jobs), and Trade, Transportation and Utilities (3,500 more jobs). Manufacturing jobs declined 1.3% to 158,700.

ARKANSAS JOB SECTOR NUMBERS
(nonfarm employment, seasonally adjusted)
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities
February 2026: 274,300
February 2025: 270,800
The sector posted record jobs of 275,100 in December 2025.

Education and Health Services
February 2026: 212,400
February 2025: 208,700
February employment marked a new record for the sector.

Government
February 2026: 204,500
February 2025: 206,300
The sector set a record of 224,100 in May 2010.

Manufacturing
February 2026: 158,700
February 2025: 160,800
The sector set a record of 247,600 in February 1995.

Professional and Business Services
February 2026: 165,400
February 2025: 163,200
February employment marked a new record for the sector.

Leisure and Hospitality
February 2026: 135,100
February 2025: 131,00
February employment marked a new record for the sector.

Financial Activities
February 2026: 59,600
February 2025: 59,800
The sector set a record of 60,200 in May 2026.

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

NATIONAL NUMBERS
Unemployment rates were higher in February in 1 state and stable in 49 states and the District of Columbia, according to the BLS report. Thirteen states and the District had jobless rate rises from a year earlier, 2 states had decreases, and 35 states had little change.

Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment decreased in 2 states and the District, increased in 2 states, and was essentially unchanged in 46 states.

Hawaii and South Dakota had the lowest jobless rates in February at 2.3% each. The District of Columbia had the highest unemployment rate 6.5%. The next highest rates were in California and Delaware 5.4% each. In total, 21 states had unemployment rates lower than the U.S. figure of 4.4%, 6 states and the District had higher rates, and 23 states had rates that were not appreciably different from that of the nation.