Overall unemployment rate moved up to 2.5% with the biggest shift in Education & Healthcare, which lost 1,400 roles, based on the most recently available information published in February 2022.
Total employment in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR market declined by 98 jobs in December and the unemployment rate increased compared to the prior month by 20 bps to 2.5%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 20 bps over the same time to 3.7%.
- Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR unemployment rate is 119 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
- Unemployment in the market is 250 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
- Average wages (per hour) declined in December versus prior month by -2.7% and are down compared to last year at this time in the market.
For key employment segments of the market, total jobs declined by -0.1%. Key sectors include:
- Transportation & Utilities: 71,200; +700
- Government: 67,500; -100
- Education & Healthcare: 59,400; -1,400
- Business Services: 44,500; +100
- Restaurants & Hotels: 30,700; -100
- Financial Services: 24,200; +100
- Manufacturing: 18,800; -100
- Other Jobs: 18,300; no change
- Construction, Mining: 17,100; +300
- IT & Development: 5,300; +100
Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through December 2021 (Data published February 2022 and reports created on February 4, 2022). Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.
Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.