Arkansas’ unemployment rate in September remained steady at 3.5 percent.
The Arkansas Department of Workforce Services released the data, produced by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, on Friday.
“While the number of employed Arkansans increased slightly from last month, there are 43,387 more employed than in September 2016,” BLS Program Operations Manager Susan Price said in a news release.
The state Department of Workforce Services said Arkansas’ civilian labor force rose by 1,435, the result of 938 more unemployed and 497 more employed. In September, the U.S. jobless rate stood at 4.2 percent, down two-tenths of a percentage point from August and down seven-tenths of a percentage point from September 2016.
Compared to September 2016, nonfarm payroll jobs in Arkansas are up by 20,900. Seven major industry sectors added jobs, with five adding 2,100 or more jobs each. Employment in three sectors declined.
Jobs in educational and health services rose by 5,300, in health care, social assistance and educational services.
Manufacturing added 4,700 jobs. Nondurable goods accounted for all of those gains.
Employment in professional and business services increased by 4,700. Administrative and support services, a subsector that includes employment agencies, saw most of the gains.
Other services (automotive repair, dry cleaning, civic organizations, etc.) added 2,300 jobs, while employment in construction increased by 2,100, mostly in specialty trade construction.
Trade, transportation and utilities added 1,300 jobs.
Employment in the information sector decreased by 300, while employment in financial activities remained didn’t change from the 51,200 jobs it posted in September 2016.
Leisure and hospitality gained 1,700 jobs, while government lost 800 jobs, all in local government.
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