Central Arkansas Job Growth Above Pre-Pandemic Levels

Central Arkansas has shown faster job growth in the past two years than during the pre- COVID-19 period, Metroplan noted in its December report, “Metro Trends: Economic Review and Outlook.”

“There are signs of structural economic change underway,” said the report, pointing to the area’s manufacturing and logistics sectors in particular.

Since early 2021, manufacturing has been gaining ground at a faster pace — 4% to 6% year-over-year — than the previous 2015-2020 period, the report said.

The most dramatic changes in the regional economy have been in wholesale trade and in transportation and warehousing.