Arkansas’ unemployment rate climbed to 3.3% in July after holding at 3.2% the previous three months, the state Division of Workforce Services reported Friday.
“While employment stalled this month, there are 33,357 more employed Arkansans compared to July 2021 and the labor force participation rate has increased by half a percentage point,” Susan Price, Labor Department program operations manager, said in a news release.
The U.S. jobless rate in the month fell from 3.6% to 3.5%.
Arkansas’ civilian labor force increased by 1,048, a result of 1,084
more unemployed and 36 fewer employed Arkansans. Nonfarm payroll jobs declined by 2,900 in July to total 1.31 million.
Losses in government totaled 10,800, with season declines reported in local and state educational services due to the summer break at public schools and universities.
Those losses more than offset gains in the following major sectors:
- Educational and health services added 2,600 jobs. All hiring occurred in health care and social assistance (+3,000), offset by seasonal losses in educational services (-400).
- Jobs in leisure and hospitality increased by 1,900. Gains were posted across all subsectors.
- Employment in manufacturing rose 1,100. Most of the expansions were in nondurable goods manufacturing (+800).
- Trade, transportation and utilities added 900 jobs
- Jobs in financial activities increased by 100
- Information jobs rose by 100
- Other services added 500 jobs
Payrolls were unchanged in professional business services last month.
Compared to July 2021, nonfarm payroll jobs in Arkansas were up 43,600.
The full report is available here.
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