Overall unemployment rate moved down to 2.3% with the biggest shift in Business Services, which lost 1,100 roles, based on the most recently available information published in December 2021.
Total employment in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR market rose by 3,457 jobs in November and the unemployment rate decreased compared to the prior month by 20 bps to 2.3%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 37 bps over the same time to 3.9%.
- Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR unemployment rate is 159 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
- Unemployment in the market is 290 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
- Average wages (per hour) declined in November versus prior month by -4.0% and are down compared to last year at this time in the market.
For key employment segments of the market, total jobs grew by 0.1% . Key sectors include:
- Transportation & Utilities: 70,000; +700
- Government: 67,600; +400
- Education & Healthcare: 60,700; +900
- Business Services: 43,900; -1,100
- Restaurants & Hotels: 30,900; -800
- Financial Services: 24,100; +300
- Manufacturing: 18,900; no change
- Other Jobs: 18,300; no change
- Construction, Mining: 16,800; -200
- IT & Development: 5,200; no change
Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through November 2021 (Data published December 2021 and reports created on January 6, 2021). Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.
Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.