Arkansas Unemployment Rate at 6.2 Percent in July

Arkansas’ unemployment rate was 6.2 percent in July, down one-tenth of a percentage point from June, according to a report released Monday by the state Department of Workforce Services.

The report also revised the previously reported June unemployment rate from 6.2 percent to 6.3 percent.

In all, Arkansas’ civilian labor force decreased by 7,900, the result of 7,200 fewer employed and 700 fewer unemployed Arkansans.

“Arkansas’ unemployment rate declined one-tenth of a percentage point this month,” DWS Communications Director Becky Heflin said. “Compared to July 2013, the rate is down one and five-tenths percentage points, and the number of unemployed is down 20,800.”

While the unemployed is down more than 20,000 from a year ago, so is the labor force, down 26,800 from July 2013.

The U.S. jobless rate increased one-tenth of a percentage point, from 6.1 percent in June to 6.2 percent in July.

Labor Force

Arkansas’ labor force has been on the decline for four consecutive months, falling below 1.3 million in July for the first time in more than five years.

After gaining 2,400 from January to February, the labor force held steady through March. Since then, it’s toppled more than 30,000 workers.

Employed Workers

Much like the state’s labor force, its employed workers pool has steadily decline since March. 

Employed workers in Arkansas grew by 7,600 between January and March, but has since contracted by 21,600 workers to its lowest mark in more than five years.

The Unemployed

The number of unemployed workers in Arkansas has fallen for eleven months in a row, but that decline has been tempered by a continued decline in the labor force and employed workers pool.

Since the beginning of the year, unemployed Arkansans has shrunk 16,000 from 97,000 to 81,000. It’s down 20,800 workers from a year ago.

The state’s unemployment rate has also steadily declined for ten consecutive months. It’s down 1.5 percentage points from a year ago, and 1.1 percentage points from January.

Sectors Report

The state’s nonfarm payroll declined by 14,300 jobs in July. Seven sectors reported decreases, three reported gains and one was unchanged.

From a year ago, the nonfarm payroll is up 17,000 jobs. Nine sectors have seen job growth and two saw declines. 

Here is a breakdown by sector:

•Mining and logging is up 200 jobs from June, and 300 jobs from a year ago.

•Manufacturing is down 700 jobs from June, but up 2,300 jobs from a year ago. From June, 100 jobs were lost in durable goods and 600 in nondurable goods, while from July 2013, there 2,100 jobs gained in durable goods and 200 in nondurable.

•Trade, transportation and utilities, the largest sector, was down 900 jobs from June, but up 1,500 jobs from July 2013. From June, 900 jobs were lost in wholesale trade, 100 lost in retail trade and 100 gained in transportation, warehousing and utilities. From a year ago, 600 jobs were in wholesale trade and retail trade, and 300 in transportation, warehousing and utilities.

•Information lost 100 jobs from June and 500 from a year ago.

•Financial activities is down 400 jobs from June and up 600 jobs from July 2013. From June, the sector lost 200 jobs each in finance and insurance, and real estate, rental and leasing. From a year ago, it gained 500 in finance and insurance and 100 in real estate, rental and leasing.

•Jobs in professional and business services were up 500 from June and 2,400 from a year ago. From June, 100 jobs were lost in professional, scientific and technical, 600 were gained in administrative and support services, and there was no change in management of companies. From July 2013, 600 were lost in professional, scientific and technical, 2,600 were gained in administrative and support services and 400 in management of companies.

•Educational and health services was down 300 jobs from June and up 4,200 from a year ago. Jobs were down 800 in educational services and 200 in ambulatory care from June, while they were up 500 in health care and social assistance. From July 2013, jobs were up 3,500 in health care and social assistance and 700 in educational services.

•Jobs in leisure and hospitality were down 200 from June, but up 3,300 from July 2013. They were down 100 in both arts, entertainment and recreation, and accommodation and food services from June. From a year ago, they were up 200 in arts, entertainment and recreation, and up 3,100 in accommodation and food services.

•Other services were up 300 from June and 800 from July 2013.

•Government jobs were down 12,700 from June and 200 from a year ago. From June, jobs were down 11,600 in local government and 1,600 in state government, while jobs at the federal level were up 100. From a year ago, jobs were down 600 in local government and 300 in federal, while they were up 700 in state government.