Arkansas’ unemployment rate held steady at 3.4 percent, the same record low set in May, though that rate is still down seven-tenths of a percentage point from June 2016.
“Employment in Arkansas increased 9,481 in June, breaking last month’s record high for the state,” BLS Program Operations Manager Susan Price said in a news release. “There are now 28,681 more employed Arkansans than in June 2016.”
The state Department of Workforce Services said Arkansas’ civilian labor force rose by 9,243, the result of 9,481 more employed and 238 fewer unemployed Arkansans. In June, the U.S. jobless rate stood at 4.4 percent, up one-tenth of a percentage point from May but down five-tenths of a percentage point from June 2016.
Compared to June 2016, nonfarm payroll jobs in Arkansas increased by 25,700. Eight major industry sectors added jobs, while employment in three sectors declined.
The government sector lost the most jobs, while jobs in the two other sectors declined by less than 1 percent.
- Jobs in educational and health services rose by 7,400, mostly in health care and social assistance.
- Employment in professional and business services increased by 6,400. Administrative and support services and professional, scientific and technical services posted gains that offset a loss in management of companies.
- Trade, transportation and utilities added 4,000 jobs, with transportation, warehousing and utilities posting most of those gains.
- Leisure and hospitality increased by 3,800, with food services accounting for the majority of that growth.
- Manufacturing added 2,900 jobs. Nondurable goods accounted for all of those gains.
- Jobs in other services, which includes activities like repair, maintenance and membership organizations, added 2,200 jobs.
- Jobs in government decreased by 1,500, with declines in both local and state government, although more jobs were lost in state government and no jobs were lost in federal government. The other sectors with declines were mining and logging and information.
Sign up for Daily E-news
