Arkansas Unemployment Drops to 7.1% in July

Arkansas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined to 7.1% in July from 8.1% in June, the state Department of Workforce Services reported Friday.

The department revised June’s estimate up from the 8% it originally reported. The report said that in July Arkansas’ civilian labor force decreased by 9,410.

More: See the full report here.

The U.S. jobless rate also declined, going from 11.1% in June to 10.2% in July.

“Arkansas’ unemployment rate rose to 10.8% in April, at the height of the initial pandemic response. While employment and unemployment have fluctuated since then, Arkansas’ jobless rate has steadily declined and is down to 7.1% in July,” BLS Program Operations Manager Susan Price said in a news release. 

Compared to July 2019, nonfarm payroll jobs in Arkansas are down by 54,600. Eight major industry sectors posted job losses, while two gained jobs.

• Manufacturing declined by 18,100, mostly in durable goods manufacturing (-13,700).

• Jobs in leisure and hospitality fell 17,600, with the most contraction being in food services (-13,400).

• Government lost 9,500 jobs, in local (-8,000) and state (-2,000) government.

• Employment in educational and health services dropped 8,300 jobs, all in health care and social assistance (-9,600).

• Jobs in trade, transportation and utilities added 3,800 jobs, with gains in all subsectors.

• The report said other reductions occurred in other services (-2,300), financial activities (-1,400) and information (-600).

• Mining and logging lost 700 jobs, while construction gained 100.

• Professional and business services didn’t add or lose jobs.