Arkansas’ unemployment rate has dropped two-tenths of a percent, from 5.4 percent in August to 5.2 in September, according to U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services announced today, Oct. 20.
The state’s civilian labor force declined 1,400, a result of 2,500 fewer unemployed and 1,100 more employed Arkansans. The United States’ jobless rate remained stable at 5.1 percent.
“The size of the civilian labor force declined slightly, as the decrease in the number of unemployed more than offset the gain in employment,” BLS Program Operations Manager Susan Price said.
The Arkansas unemployment rate in September 2014 was 5.8 percent, and nationally was 5.9 percent.
The chart below shows which industries showed growth and losses:
ARKANSAS NONFARM PAYROLL JOBS
(Not Seasonally Adjusted) North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Industry Group 2012 | September 2015 | August 2015 | September 2014 | Change From August 2015 | Change From September 2014 |
Total Nonfarm Payroll Jobs | 1,219,400 | 1,207,100 | 1,199,100 | 12,300 | 20,300 |
Goods Producing | 216,000 | 215,700 | 211,700 | 300 | 4,300 |
Mining & Logging | 8,300 | 8,400 | 9,000 | -100 | -700 |
Construction | 55,200 | 54,100 | 47,400 | 1,100 | 7,800 |
Specialty Trade Contractors | 35,900 | 35,800 | 30,100 | 100 | 5,800 |
Manufacturing | 152,500 | 153,200 | 155,300 | -700 | -2,800 |
Durable Goods | 75,100 | 75,700 | 77,200 | -600 | -2,100 |
Nondurable Goods | 77,400 | 77,500 | 78,100 | -100 | -700 |
Service Providing | 1,003,400 | 991,400 | 987,400 | 12,000 | 16,000 |
Trade, Transportation, & Utilities | 245,900 | 247,800 | 246,200 | -1,900 | -300 |
Wholesale Trade | 48,300 | 48,100 | 47,000 | 200 | 1,300 |
Retail Trade | 135,000 | 136,400 | 136,100 | -1,400 | -1,100 |
Transportation, Warehousing, & Utilities | 62,600 | 63,300 | 63,100 | -700 | -500 |
Information | 13,700 | 13,800 | 13,500 | -100 | 200 |
Financial Activities | 50,900 | 51,400 | 49,700 | -500 | 1,200 |
Finance & Insurance | 37,800 | 38,200 | 36,700 | -400 | 1,100 |
Real Estate & Rental & Leasing | 13,100 | 13,200 | 13,000 | -100 | 100 |
Professional & Business Services | 141,000 | 140,600 | 135,600 | 400 | 5,400 |
Professional, Scientific, & Technical | 40,200 | 40,700 | 39,600 | -500 | 600 |
Management of Companies | 34,300 | 34,300 | 32,400 | 0 | 1,900 |
Administrative & Support Services | 66,500 | 65,600 | 63,600 | 900 | 2,900 |
Educational & Health Services | 178,800 | 176,800 | 173,200 | 2,000 | 5,600 |
Educational Services | 13,700 | 12,100 | 14,400 | 1,600 | -700 |
Health Care & Social Assistance | 165,100 | 164,700 | 158,800 | 400 | 6,300 |
Ambulatory Health Care | 51,100 | 51,600 | 49,700 | -500 | 1,400 |
Social Assistance | 38,600 | 38,300 | 37,000 | 300 | 1,600 |
Leisure & Hospitality | 114,100 | 115,300 | 110,000 | -1,200 | 4,100 |
Arts, Entertainment, & Recreation | 11,700 | 12,700 | 11,100 | -1,000 | 600 |
Accommodation & Food Services | 102,400 | 102,600 | 98,900 | -200 | 3,500 |
Accommodation Services | 11,100 | 11,300 | 11,200 | -200 | -100 |
Food Services | 91,300 | 91,300 | 87,700 | 0 | 3,600 |
Other Services | 44,300 | 43,900 | 44,000 | 400 | 300 |
Government | 214,700 | 201,800 | 215,200 | 12,900 | -500 |
Federal Government | 20,200 | 20,300 | 20,200 | -100 | 0 |
State Government | 79,600 | 74,400 | 79,000 | 5,200 | 600 |
Local Government | 114,900 | 107,100 | 116,000 | 7,800 | -1,100 |