Arkansas' seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 7.4% in August from 7.1% in July, the state Department of Workforce Services reported Friday.
The report said that in August Arkansas' civilian labor force rose by 38,219.
More: See the full report here.
The U.S. jobless rate declined, going from 10.2% in July to 8.4% in August.
“Arkansas’ unemployment rate increased in August, due to the sizable growth of the civilian labor force. The labor force gains were related to a surge in the number of employed Arkansans, in addition to an increase in unemployed individuals who are actively looking for work,” BLS Program Operations Manager Susan Price said in a news release.
Compared to August 2019, nonfarm payroll jobs in Arkansas are down by 45,500. Eight major industry sectors posted job losses, while three gained jobs.
- Manufacturing declined by 17,900, mostly in durable goods manufacturing (-13,400).
- Jobs in leisure and hospitality fell 17,800, with the most contraction being in food services (-13,500).
- Jobs in trade, transportation and utilities added 7,800 jobs, mostly in retail trade (+3,400).
- Government lost 4,400 jobs, in local (-5,900) and state (-2,100) government.
- Reductions also occurred in other services (-3,300) and financial activities (-2,200).
- Professional and business services added 1,600 jobs, all in management of companies (+2,000).
- Educational and health services lost 8,800 jobs,with reductions in health care and social assistance (-10,100) more than offsetting small gains in educational services (+1,300).
- Mining and logging lost 800 jobs, while construction gained 900 and information lost 600.
