The state’s unemployment rate remained at 3.7% in July, going unchanged for a fifth straight month, the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services reported Tuesday.
The U.S. jobless rate increased one-tenth of a percentage point to 4.2% in July.
In Arkansas, the civilian labor force increased by 903 to 1.424 million, remaining at record levels. The labor force participation rate in July remained at 58.4%.
Compared to July 2024, there were 8,555 more people employed in the state. The unemployment rate is up three-tenths of a percentage point. Arkansas’ labor force participation rate is up one-tenths of a percentage point on an annual basis.
On a monthly basis, nonfarm payroll jobs decreased by 8,700 in July, due in large part to summer break at schools. Jobs in government dropped 10,900, both in local government educational services (-9,600) and state
government educational services (-1,500). Six major industry sectors posted gains, including leisure and hospitality (+900), construction (+800), and financial activities (+400).
Compared to July 2024, Arkansas’ nonfarm payroll jobs increased by 26,100. Notable expansions occurred in private education and health services (+12,000), leisure and hospitality (+6,000), trade, transportation and utilities (+4,600), professional and business Services (+3,200), and manufacturing (+2,400).
Other sectors and their changes from July 2024:
- Government +100
- Financial activities +100
- Mining and logging -100
- Information -200
- Other services -1,100
- Construction -1,800
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