Arkansas Unemployment Drops to 7.1 Percent in September
By: KARK 4 News
Updated: October 19, 2012
Arkansas's unemployment rate continues to fall.
For September, it's 7.1-percent, a two-tenths of a percentage point decline from 7.3-percent in August.
The Arkansas Department of Workforce Services (DWS) says labor force data produced by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, shows Arkansas' civilian labor force last month had 1,900 fewer unemployed and 800 fewer employed Arkansans.
The United States' jobless rate declined three-tenths of a percentage point in September, falling to 7.8-percent.
"The number of both employed and unemployed Arkansans declined this month, resulting in a decrease in the size of the civilian labor force. This combination of losses triggered the drop in Arkansas' unemployment rate. This decline in the rate mirrors the trend seen at the national level," said DWS Communications Director Kimberly Friedman.
Since September 2011, nonfarm payroll jobs in Arkansas increased 12,900. Seven major industry sectors reported growth, with three sectors adding 2,300 or more jobs, each. Four industry sectors posted employment declines. Leisure and hospitality enjoyed the largest gain (+6,500). Most of the expansion occurred in food services (+5,600). Jobs in educational and health services rose 5,300. The largest increase was in the health care and social assistance subsector (+3,600), which includes activities such as individual-family services and general medical-surgical hospitals.
Government added 2,300 jobs. Local government posted the largest gain (+2,000), mostly related to growth in public education. Professional and business services added 1,900 jobs, largely in the professional, scientific, and technical services subsector (+1,300). Increases were attributed to reported growth in management consulting and in architectural-engineering services. Construction posted the largest decline (-3,100). Most of the loss occurred in specialty trade contractors (-2,400), with reported decreases in building equipment contracting and building finishing contracting.
For September, it's 7.1-percent, a two-tenths of a percentage point decline from 7.3-percent in August.
The Arkansas Department of Workforce Services (DWS) says labor force data produced by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, shows Arkansas' civilian labor force last month had 1,900 fewer unemployed and 800 fewer employed Arkansans.
The United States' jobless rate declined three-tenths of a percentage point in September, falling to 7.8-percent.
"The number of both employed and unemployed Arkansans declined this month, resulting in a decrease in the size of the civilian labor force. This combination of losses triggered the drop in Arkansas' unemployment rate. This decline in the rate mirrors the trend seen at the national level," said DWS Communications Director Kimberly Friedman.
Arkansas Nonfarm Payroll Job Summary
Arkansas' nonfarm payroll jobs rose 12,300 in September to total 1,174,100. Four major industry sectors posted gains, more than offsetting moderate declines in six sectors. One industry remained stable. Government enjoyed a large seasonal increase (+14,200). All gains occurred in state (+5,500) and local (+8,800) government, as public school employment continued to increase. Educational and health services added 700 jobs, mostly attributed to private school employment. Jobs in trade, transportation, and utilities declined 1,100. Retail trade posted a majority of the loss, with decreases reported at general merchandise stores, clothing-accessories stores and building material-garden supply stores.Since September 2011, nonfarm payroll jobs in Arkansas increased 12,900. Seven major industry sectors reported growth, with three sectors adding 2,300 or more jobs, each. Four industry sectors posted employment declines. Leisure and hospitality enjoyed the largest gain (+6,500). Most of the expansion occurred in food services (+5,600). Jobs in educational and health services rose 5,300. The largest increase was in the health care and social assistance subsector (+3,600), which includes activities such as individual-family services and general medical-surgical hospitals.
Government added 2,300 jobs. Local government posted the largest gain (+2,000), mostly related to growth in public education. Professional and business services added 1,900 jobs, largely in the professional, scientific, and technical services subsector (+1,300). Increases were attributed to reported growth in management consulting and in architectural-engineering services. Construction posted the largest decline (-3,100). Most of the loss occurred in specialty trade contractors (-2,400), with reported decreases in building equipment contracting and building finishing contracting.
