Arkansas’ unemployment rate was 3.7 percent in January and unchanged from the previous month because December’s rate was revised up, to 3.7 percent from 3.6 percent.
But the U.S. jobless rate rose one-tenth of a percentage point to 4 percent between December and January, according to a report released Monday by the state Department of Workforce Services.
“Employment in Arkansas is up 4,696 compared to January 2018. Additionally, the annual revision shows that there were more employed Arkansans in the second half of 2018 than originally estimated,” BLS Program Operations Manager Susan Price said in a news release.
Compared to January 2018, Arkansas’ nonfarm payroll employment is up by 11,300. Growth came in eight major industry sectors, while two sectors saw slight losses and one sector (mining and logging) didn’t gain or lose jobs.
- Jobs in manufacturing increased by 3,100, will all the gains being in durable goods.
- Trade, transportation and utilities added 2,000 jobs. Gains in transportation/warehousing/utilities (1,800) and wholesale trade (1,600) offset a loss in retail trade (1,400).
- Employment in leisure and hospitality rose by 1,600, with all the gains being in food services.
- Construction gained 1,400 jobs, with most of the gains being in specialty trade contractors.
- Jobs in financial activities rose by 1,300.
- Other services added 1,100 jobs.
- Educational and health services gained 900 jobs.
- Government added 600 jobs.
- Information lost 400 jobs.
- Professional and business services lost 300 jobs.
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