State Jobless Rate Rises to 3.2% in April

Arkansas’ unemployment rate rose to 3.2% from March to April, the state Division of Workforce Services reported Friday.

Arkansas’ civilian labor force increased by 5,655, the result of 4,522 more employed and 1,133 more unemployed. Employment in the state increased for the fourth month in a row.

The U.S. jobless rate didn’t change from March to April, remaining at 3.6%.

Arkansas’ nonfarm payroll jobs increased by 35,500 in April to nearly 1.32 million, a record high. Gains were posted in eight major industry  sectors, while three sectors lost jobs:

• Trade, transportation and utilities added 15,200 jobs, with hiring across all subsectors, but especially in transportation-warehousing-utilities (8,200). 
• Leisure and hospitality added 8,300 jobs, mostly in accommodation and food services (6,900).
• Manufacturing added 7,100 jobs, with growth reported in both nondurable goods (3,800) and durable goods (3,300).
• Professional and business services added 2,400 jobs. Expansions in management of companies (4,500) and professional-scientific-technical services (1,100) more than offset declines in administrative and support services (3,200).
• Government jobs increased by 2,300, mainly due to gains in local government-educational services (2,200).
• Construction lost 1,900 jobs, mostly in the specialty trade contractors subsector (1,600).
• Educational and health services gained 1,200 jobs.
• Information added 1,000 jobs.
• Financial activities added 900 jobs.
• Other services lost 700 jobs.
• Mining and logging lost 300 jobs.

There were 35,500 more people employed in Arkansas in April than there were in April 2021.