The state’s unemployment rate remained at 3.7% in April, the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services reported Wednesday.
The U.S. jobless rate also was unchanged in April, holding at 4.2%.
In Arkansas, the civilian labor force increased by 1,519 to 1.422 million. The labor force participation rate in April remained at 58.4%.
Compared to April 2024, there were 14,459 more people employed in the state. The unemployment rate is up three-tenths of a percentage point. Arkansas’ labor force participation rate is up three-tenths of a percentage point on an annual basis.
On a monthly basis, nonfarm payroll jobs rose by 7,800 in April. The largest gains were posted in professional and business services (+2,600), leisure and hospitality (+2,100), government (+1,100) and construction (+1,000).
Compared to April 2024, Arkansas’ nonfarm payroll jobs increased by 19,000. The largest annual growth was in private education and health services (+7,800), followed by trade, transportation and utilities (+6,000), professional and business services (+2,100), and manufacturing (+1,700).
Other sectors and their changes from April 2024:
- Financial activities +1,300
- Other services +200
- Mining and logging: flat
- Leisure and hospitality: flat
- Construction -300
- Information -600
Sign up for Daily E-news
