ARKANSAS: Arkansas in July compared to July 2014, and the July jobless rate fell to 5.6% from 5.7% in June. The July 2014 jobless rate was 6%. The state’s jobless rate has been at or below 6% for 13 consecutive months. The size of the workforce 1.336 million was up 3.1% compared to July 2014, but was down compared to June, according to the figures released (Aug. 21) by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The peak for Arkansas’ labor force was 1.376 million in August 2008.The number of employed in Arkansas during July was 1.262 million, up 965 jobs over June and up 3.57%, ore 43,554 jobs, compared to July 2014. The number of unemployed was an estimated 74,461 during July, below the 75,778 in June, and below the 77,802 in July 2014.
Leading the year-over-year job gains were the construction sector (+6,800) education and health services sector (+5,300 jobs), and leisure and hospitality (+4,900).The closely watched non farm payroll number was 1,213,800 in July, better than the 1,212,600 in June and up over the 1,185,400 in July 2014. If the July number stands, it marks a new high for the sector. Nonfarm jobs set a new high of 1,209,900 in February. Prior to that, nonfarm jobs reached a high in Arkansas of 1,209,800 in February 2008.
