Arkansas’ Unemployment Rate Rises to 3.4% in December
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Jan. 23, 2024) Today, the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services, in conjunction with the Bureau of Labor Statistics, announced Arkansas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose one-tenth of a percentage point, from 3.3% in November to 3.4% in December. The United States’ jobless rate remained stable at 3.7%.
Arkansas Civilian Labor Force Summary:
- Arkansas’ civilian labor force declined by 1,147 in December. The number of employed in the State decreased by 3,638, while 2,491 more unemployed Arkansans began actively looking for work. Arkansas’ labor force participation rate dipped to 57.6% in December.
- Compared to December 2022, there are 18,263 more employed and 446 additional unemployed Arkansans. The unemployment rate is the same as last December, while the labor force participation rate is up two-tenths of a percentage point.
Arkansas Nonfarm Payroll Job Summary:
- In December, nonfarm payroll jobs in Arkansas increased by 3,400 to a total of 1,369,000. Manufacturing (+2,300), Private Education and Health Services (+1,800), and Trade-Transportation-Utilities (+1,700) posted the largest gains. Jobs in Leisure and Hospitality declined by 3,700, a typical seasonal loss.
- Compared to December 2022, nonfarm payroll jobs are up 14,500. The largest gains were in Private Education and Health Services (+9,200), Construction (+7,600), and Leisure and Hospitality (+3,500). The greatest over-the-year decline occurred in Trade-Transportation-Utilities (-6,100).
Arkansas Civilian Labor Force (Seasonally Adjusted)
| December 2023 | November 2023 | December 2022 | Change from November 2023 | Change from December 2022 | |
| Civilian Labor Force | 1,391,742 | 1,392,889 | 1,373,033 | -1,147 | 18,709 |
| Employment | 1,343,944 | 1,347,582 | 1,325,681 | -3,638 | 18,263 |
| Unemployment | 47,798 | 45,307 | 47,352 | 2,491 | 446 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% | 3.3% | 3.4% | 0.1% | 0.0% |
| Labor Force Participation Rate | 57.6% | 57.7% | 57.4% | -0.1% | 0.2% |
Arkansas Nonfarm Payroll Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted, In Thousands)
| Industry Sector based on 2022 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) | December 2023 | November 2023 | December 2022 | Change from November 2023 | Change from December 2022 |
| Total Nonfarm Payroll Jobs | 1369.0 | 1365.6 | 1354.5 | 3.4 | 14.5 |
| Goods Producing | 234.3 | 231.2 | 228.0 | 3.1 | 6.3 |
| Mining, Logging, & Construction | 71.7 | 70.9 | 64.2 | 0.8 | 7.5 |
| Mining & Logging | 5.0 | 4.9 | 5.1 | 0.1 | -0.1 |
| Construction | 66.7 | 66.0 | 59.1 | 0.7 | 7.6 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors | 41.6 | 41.2 | 36.5 | 0.4 | 5.1 |
| Manufacturing | 162.6 | 160.3 | 163.8 | 2.3 | -1.2 |
| Durable Goods | 78.6 | 76.5 | 79.7 | 2.1 | -1.1 |
| Nondurable Goods | 84.0 | 83.8 | 84.1 | 0.2 | -0.1 |
| Service Providing | 1134.7 | 1134.4 | 1126.5 | 0.3 | 8.2 |
| Trade, Transportation, & Utilities | 274.0 | 272.3 | 280.1 | 1.7 | -6.1 |
| Wholesale Trade | 53.1 | 53.3 | 53.0 | -0.2 | 0.1 |
| Retail Trade | 144.0 | 142.8 | 146.9 | 1.2 | -2.9 |
| Transportation, Warehousing, & Utilities | 76.9 | 76.2 | 80.2 | 0.7 | -3.3 |
| Information | 11.5 | 11.5 | 12.8 | 0.0 | -1.3 |
| Financial Activities | 71.9 | 71.0 | 71.2 | 0.9 | 0.7 |
| Finance & Insurance | 57.2 | 56.3 | 56.4 | 0.9 | 0.8 |
| Real Estate, Rental, & Leasing | 14.7 | 14.7 | 14.8 | 0.0 | -0.1 |
| Professional & Business Services | 150.3 | 151.5 | 150.8 | -1.2 | -0.5 |
| Professional, Scientific, & Technical | 51.1 | 49.9 | 48.2 | 1.2 | 2.9 |
| Management of Companies | 41.0 | 40.9 | 39.0 | 0.1 | 2.0 |
| Administrative & Support Services | 58.2 | 60.7 | 63.6 | -2.5 | -5.4 |
| Private Education & Health Services | 212.2 | 210.4 | 203.0 | 1.8 | 9.2 |
| Educational Services | 19.6 | 19.5 | 19.2 | 0.1 | 0.4 |
| Health Care & Social Assistance | 192.6 | 190.9 | 183.8 | 1.7 | 8.8 |
| Ambulatory Health Care | 68.5 | 67.7 | 63.7 | 0.8 | 4.8 |
| Social Assistance | 39.9 | 39.7 | 37.7 | 0.2 | 2.2 |
| Leisure & Hospitality | 126.0 | 129.7 | 122.5 | -3.7 | 3.5 |
| Arts, Entertainment, & Recreation | 12.9 | 13.3 | 12.4 | -0.4 | 0.5 |
| Accommodation & Food Services | 113.1 | 116.4 | 110.1 | -3.3 | 3.0 |
| Accommodation Services | 11.3 | 11.7 | 11.0 | -0.4 | 0.3 |
| Food Services | 101.8 | 104.7 | 99.1 | -2.9 | 2.7 |
| Other Services | 74.7 | 73.9 | 73.5 | 0.8 | 1.2 |
| Government | 214.1 | 214.1 | 212.6 | 0.0 | 1.5 |
| Federal Government | 22.0 | 21.6 | 20.9 | 0.4 | 1.1 |
| State Government | 77.5 | 77.9 | 77.6 | -0.4 | -0.1 |
| State Government, Educational Services | 31.4 | 31.8 | 31.4 | -0.4 | 0.0 |
| State Government, Excluding Education | 46.1 | 46.1 | 46.2 | 0.0 | -0.1 |
| Local Government | 114.6 | 114.6 | 114.1 | 0.0 | 0.5 |
| Local Government, Educational Services | 71.0 | 70.8 | 70.8 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| Local Government, Excluding Education | 43.6 | 43.8 | 43.3 | -0.2 | 0.3 |
For more Labor Market Data, visit our website at www.discover.arkansas.gov
2024 Arkansas Publication Schedule
| Reference Month | State Press Release | MSA’s & Counties** |
| January | 03/11/24* | 03/13/24 |
| February | 03/22/24 | 04/03/24 |
| March | 04/19/24 | 05/01/24 |
| April | 05/17/24 | 05/29/24 |
| May | 06/25/24* | 07/03/24 |
| June | 07/19/24 | 07/30/24 |
| July | 08/16/24 | 08/28/24 |
| August | 09/20/24 | 10/02/24 |
| September | 10/22/24* | 10/30/24 |
| October | 11/19/24* | 11/27/24 |
| November | 12/20/24 | 01/03/25 |
| December | 01/28/25* | 02/05/25 |
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About the Arkansas Department of Commerce:
The Arkansas Department of Commerce is the umbrella department for workforce and economic development drivers. Its divisions and regulatory boards include Division of Aeronautics, Waterways Commission, Wine Producers Council, Division of Workforce Services, Office of Skills Development, State Bank Department, Insurance Department, Securities Department, Economic Development Commission and Development Finance Authority.
About the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services
The mission of the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services is to support and secure Arkansas’ economic vitality through a highly skilled workforce by administering programs and providing services that empower employers and jobseekers. ADWS is a division of the Arkansas Department of Commerce.
www.dws.arkansas.gov | Facebook: facebook.com/arkdws | Twitter: @ArkansasDWS
About Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
The Bureau of Labor Statistics measures labor market activity, working conditions, price changes, and productivity In the U.S. economy to support public and private decision making.
About Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS)
The LAUS program produces monthly and annual employment, unemployment, and labor force data for Census regions and divisions, States, counties, metropolitan areas, and many cities, by place of residence.
About Current Employment Statistics (CES)
The CES program produces detailed industry estimates of employment, hours, and earnings of workers on nonfarm payrolls. CES State and Metro Area produces data for all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and about 450 metropolitan areas and divisions.
