Arkansas Unemployment Climbs Higher To 8.2%

Arkansas’ July jobless rate rose one-tenth of a percent to 8.2% as the number of unemployed workers climbed by 1,400.

An estimated 110,800 Arkansans were without jobs in July, according to the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services.
 
“Arkansas’ unemployment rate rose slightly in July. The increase, however, follows historical trends for July, as Arkansas’ rate usually increases one tenth of a percentage point or stays the same,” said DWS Communications Director Kimberly Friedman.

June’s unemployment rate of 8.1% was the highest rate for the state in the last 24 years. One year ago, Arkansas’ jobless rate was 7.8%. The U.S. unemployment rate in July was 9.1%.

Nonfarm payroll jobs in Arkansas declined 15,600 in July to total 1,163,400.  Seven major industry sectors posted job losses, more than offsetting gains in four sectors.

The biggest month-to-month sector gainers and losers were:

Government -14,400
Construction +2,000
Professional/Business services -2,200
Trade/Transportation/Utilities +1,300
Leisure/Hospitality +1,400
Education/Health -200
Manufacturing -900

From July 2010 to July 2011, the biggest sector gainers and losers were:

Government -5,400
Construction -600
Professional/Business services +3,000
Trade/Transportation/Utilities +800
Leisure/Hospitality +7,600
Education/Health +2,200
Manufacturing -4,800