Arkansas Unemployment Rate Remains at 3.7% in May

The state’s unemployment rate remained at 3.7% in May, going unchanged for a third straight month, the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services reported Tuesday.

The U.S. jobless rate also was unchanged in May, holding at 4.2%.

In Arkansas, the civilian labor force increased by 615 to 1.423 million. The labor force participation rate in May remained at 58.4%.

Compared to May 2024, there were 12,386 more people employed in the state. The unemployment rate is up three-tenths of a percentage point. Arkansas’ labor force participation rate is up two-tenths of a percentage point on an annual basis.

On a monthly basis, nonfarm payroll jobs rose by 3,400 in May. The largest gain was in leisure and hospitality (+4,000), an increase driven by seasonal hiring.

Compared to May 2024, Arkansas’ nonfarm payroll jobs increased by 19,100. The department noted growth private education and health services (+8,900), trade, transportation, and utilities (+5,300), manufacturing (+2,400), and leisure and hospitality (+2,300).

Construction had the largest annual decline (-2,000), which the department attributed to the completion of several major projects.

Other sectors and their changes from May 2024:

• Financial activities +1,700
• Government +700
• Professional and business services +600
• Mining and logging: flat
• Information -300
• Other services -500