Arkansas Metro Jobless Rates Decline In November

November brought some welcome news on the job front, with all eight metro areas in or connected to Arkansas showing a jobless rate decline compared to October. Also, jobless rates in five of the metro areas were down compared to November 2010 and the remaining three were unchanged compared to November 2010.

Jobless rates and data in Wednesday’s (Jan. 4) report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics are preliminary and subject to change.

During November, the lowest metro jobless rate was 5.5% in northwest Arkansas and the highest rate was 9.3% in Pine Bluff. The number of unemployed in the northwest Arkansas metro area during November was 12,520, down from the 13,375 during November 2010.

Arkansas’ jobless rate in October was 8.2%, down from 8.3% during September and up from 7.9% in October 2010. The U.S. rate during October was 9%, down from 9.7% in October 2010.

Unemployment rates were lower in November than a year earlier in 351 of the 372 metropolitan areas, higher in 16 areas, and unchanged in 5 areas, noted the BLS report. Also, eight areas recorded jobless rates of at least 15%, while 25 areas registered rates of less than 5%.

ARKANSAS METRO AREAS
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers
Nov. 2011: 5.5%
Oct. 2011: 5.9%
Nov. 2010: 5.9%

Fort Smith
Nov. 2011: 7.8%
Oct. 2011: 7.9%
Nov. 2010: 7.8%

Hot Springs
Nov. 2011: 7%
Oct. 2011: 7.2%
Nov. 2010: 7.7%

Jonesboro
Nov. 2011: 6.4%
Oct. 2011: 6.8%
Nov. 2010: 7%

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway
Nov. 2011: 6.3%
Oct. 2011: 6.7%
Nov. 2010: 6.5%

Memphis-West Memphis
Nov. 2011: 9.2%
Oct. 2011: 9.4%
Nov. 2010: 9.3%

Pine Bluff
Nov. 2011: 9.3%
Oct. 2011: 9.4%
Nov. 2010: 9.3%

Texarkana
Nov. 2011: 6.9%
Oct. 2011: 7.4%
Nov. 2010: 7.1%

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].