News Release

For Immediate Release: January 26, 2016

Contact Person: Susan Price
Susan.Price@arkansas.gov

Arkansas Unemployment Rate Drops to 4.8 Percent

Arkansas Civilian Labor Force Summary:
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, show Arkansas seasonally adjusted
unemployment rate dropped two-tenths of a percentage point, from 5.0 percent in November to 4.8
percent in December. Arkansas civilian labor force increased 1,400, a result of 3,700 more employed
and 2,300 fewer unemployed Arkansans. The United States jobless rate remain stable at 5.0 percent
in December.
BLS Program Operations Manager Susan Price said, Arkansas unemployment rate fell to 4.8 percent
in December, dropping nine-tenths of a percentage point since December 2014. The jobless rate has
steadily declined for seven consecutive months.
ARKANSAS CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE SUMMARY
(Seasonally Adjusted)

Civilian Labor Force

Employment
Unemployment
Unemployment Rate
U.S. Unemployment Rate

December
2015
1,337,500
1,273,000
64,500
4.8
5.0

November
2015
1,336,100
1,269,300
66,800
5.0
5.0

December
2014
1,312,400
1,238,100
74,300
5.7
5.6

Change From
November
2015
1,400
3,700
-2,300
-0.2
0.0

Change From
December
2014
25,100
34,900
-9,800
-0.9
-0.6

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey.

Notes: Unemployment rates were computed from unrounded data.
Data for Metropolitan Statistical Areas and minorities and youth will be available online February 3, 2016.

Arkansas Nonfarm Payroll Job Summary:

Nonfarm payroll jobs in Arkansas rose 2,600 in December to total 1,227,900. Six major industry
sectors added jobs, while five sectors slightly declined. The largest increase occurred in trade,
transportation, and utilities (+2,500). Gains in retail trade (+1,300) reflected seasonal hiring for the
holiday shopping season. Manufacturing added 1,300 jobs. A majority of the increase was in
nondurable goods manufacturing (+1,000), with hiring reported in food manufacturing.
www.discover.arkansas.gov

Compared to December 2014, Arkansas nonfarm payroll employment rose 19,500. Eight major
industry sectors posted growth, with five adding 1,500 or more jobs, each. Three sectors decreased
over the year. Employment in educational and health services increased 7,000. Gains in health care
and social assistance (+7,400) more than offset minor declines in educational services (-400).
Professional and business services added 6,400 jobs, with expansions across all three subsectors.
Jobs in construction rose 5,300, all in specialty trade contractors (+6,400). Employment in leisure
and hospitality is up 2,800, mostly in food services (+2,300). Other services increased 1,500. The
industry includes activities such as laundry services and membership organizations. Employment in
manufacturing decreased 4,500. Most of the losses were reported in durable goods manufacturing,
down 3,800.
ARKANSAS NONFARM PAYROLL JOBS
(Not Seasonally Adjusted)

North American Industry Classification

System (NAICS) Industry Group 2012
Total Nonfarm Payroll Jobs
Goods Producing
Mining & Logging
Construction
Specialty Trade Contractors
Manufacturing
Durable Goods
Nondurable Goods
Service Providing
Trade, Transportation, & Utilities
Wholesale Trade
Retail Trade
Transportation, Warehousing, & Utilities
Information
Financial Activities
Finance & Insurance
Real Estate & Rental & Leasing
Professional & Business Services
Professional, Scientific, & Technical
Management of Companies
Administrative & Support Services
Educational & Health Services
Educational Services
Health Care & Social Assistance
Ambulatory Health Care
Social Assistance
Leisure & Hospitality
Arts, Entertainment, & Recreation
Accommodation & Food Services
Accommodation Services
Food Services
Other Services
Government
Federal Government
State Government
Local Government

December
2015
1,227,900
213,800
8,100
52,800
36,200
152,900
74,300
78,600
1,014,100
253,600
47,900
140,700
65,000
14,100
50,700
37,700
13,000
140,200
42,200
35,400
62,600
181,400
14,200
167,200
52,800
39,300
111,700
9,900
101,800
10,600
91,200
45,400
217,000
20,700
79,800
116,500

November
2015
1,225,300
212,400
8,200
52,600
35,200
151,600
74,000
77,600
1,012,900
251,100
47,800
139,400
63,900
14,000
51,200
38,200
13,000
140,500
41,200
35,000
64,300
181,100
14,400
166,700
52,100
39,400
112,300
10,100
102,200
10,900
91,300
44,900
217,800
20,400
80,600
116,800

December
2014
1,208,400
213,800
8,900
47,500
29,800
157,400
78,100
79,300
994,600
252,900
47,200
140,000
65,700
13,500
49,800
37,000
12,800
133,800
40,300
33,300
60,200
174,400
14,600
159,800
50,200
37,500
108,900
9,500
99,400
10,500
88,900
43,900
217,400
20,500
79,200
117,700

Source: Monthly Survey of Employers.

Notes: Estimates are based on the first quarter 2014 benchmark.
Current months data are preliminary; previous months data are revised.

www.discover.arkansas.gov

Change From
November
2015
2,600
1,400
-100
200
1,000
1,300
300
1,000
1,200
2,500
100
1,300
1,100
100
-500
-500
0
-300
1,000
400
-1,700
300
-200
500
700
-100
-600
-200
-400
-300
-100
500
-800
300
-800
-300

Change From
December
2014
19,500
0
-800
5,300
6,400
-4,500
-3,800
-700
19,500
700
700
700
-700
600
900
700
200
6,400
1,900
2,100
2,400
7,000
-400
7,400
2,600
1,800
2,800
400
2,400
100
2,300
1,500
-400
200
600
-1,200

2016 Arkansas Publication Schedule

Reference Month
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

State Press Release

03/14/16
03/25/16
04/15/16
05/20/16
06/17/16
07/22/16
08/19/16
09/20/16
10/21/16
11/18/16
12/16/16
01/20/17

MSAs & Counties*

03/18/16
04/06/16
04/27/16
06/01/16
06/29/16
08/03/16
08/31/16
09/28/16
11/02/16
11/30/16
12/29/16
02/01/17

*Date when Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) and county labor force statistics will be available on the
Discover Arkansas website.

www.discover.arkansas.gov