Overall unemployment rate moved down to 2.7% with the biggest shift in Restaurants & Hotels, which gained 1,200 roles, based on the most recently available information published in April 2023.
Total employment in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR market rose by 5,879 jobs in February and the unemployment rate decreased compared to the prior month by 70 bps to 2.7%. The national unemployment rate increased by 3 bps over the same time to 3.9%.
- 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 110 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
- Average wages (per hour) grew in February versus prior month by 12.4% and are up compared to last year at this time in the market.
For key employment segments of the market, total jobs grew by 0.6% . Key sectors include:
- Transportation & Utilities: 78,200; -200
- Government: 69,300; +600
- Education & Healthcare: 63,000; +800
- Business Services: 47,400; +200
- Restaurants & Hotels: 33,200; +1,200
- Other Jobs: 25,200; no change
- Financial Services: 24,100; -400
- Manufacturing: 19,900; -100
- Construction, Mining: 19,100; +100
- IT & Development: 5,800; no change
Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through February 2023 (Data published April 2023 and reports created on April 10, 2023). Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.
Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.