Arkansas November Unemployment Rate Unchanged from October

LITTLE ROCK, AR - Unemployment numbers in the State of Arkansas are holding steady.

The November jobless rate of 7.5 percent was unchanged from the month before, according to labor force data produced by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics and released today by the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services (DWS).

DWS says Arkansas civilian labor force increased 3,700, which is a result of 4,400 more employed and 700 fewer unemployed Arkansans.

The number of employed in Arkansas rose 4,400 in November, the first employment increase since May. Although employment rose and unemployment declined, the change was not enough to bring down the unemployment rate, says DWS Communications Director Becky Heflin.

Arkansas Nonfarm Payroll Job Summary:

Nonfarm payroll jobs in Arkansas increased 1,700 in November to total 1,202,400. Five major industry sectors posted gains, more than offsetting declines in six sectors. Jobs in trade, transportation, and utilities rose 1,600. A majority of the increase occurred in retail trade (+1,500), reflecting the start of the holiday shopping season. Professional and business services added 1,200 jobs. Most of these gains were in professional, scientific, and technical services (+900), due to reported hiring in architectural-engineering services and in advertising-public relations services. Jobs in leisure and hospitality decreased 1,400. Typical seasonal losses were posted throughout all subsectors.

Since November 2012, Arkansas nonfarm payroll jobs increased 13,500. Seven major industry sectors reported growth, with five adding 1,000 or more jobs, each. Four sectors posted declines. Professional and business services enjoyed the largest increase (+5,900). Gains were reported throughout all subsectors, with administrative and support services capturing a majority of the growth (+2,800). Trade, transportation, and utilities added 3,900 jobs. Most of the increase occurred in transportation, warehousing, and utilities (+3,700). Employment in educational and health services rose 3,400. Health care and social assistance posted the majority of the gains (+2,500). Jobs in construction rose by 2,500, related in part to ongoing large projects throughout the state. Financial activities added 1,000 jobs, all in finance and insurance. The subsector includes activities such as commercial banking and insurance carriers. Employment in government decreased (-1,000), largely at the federal level.

The U.S. jobless rate declined three-tenths of a percentage point, from 7.3 percent in October to 7.0 percent in November.

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Arkansas November Unemployment Rate Unchanged from October