Overall unemployment rate moved up to 3.7% with the biggest shift in Transportation & Utilities, which lost 1,400 roles, based on the most recently available information published in March 2022.
Total employment in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR market declined by 3,268 jobs in January and the unemployment rate increased compared to the prior month by 120 bps to 3.7%. The national unemployment rate increased by 74 bps over the same time to 4.4%.
- Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR unemployment rate is 73 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
- Unemployment in the market is 160 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
- Average wages (per hour) declined in January versus prior month by -2.7% and are up compared to last year at this time in the market.
For key employment segments of the market, total jobs declined by -1.0%. Key sectors include:
- Transportation & Utilities: 74,600; -1,400
- Government: 67,500; -800
- Education & Healthcare: 58,100; -100
- Business Services: 46,800; -900
- Restaurants & Hotels: 32,100; -300
- Financial Services: 22,800; +100
- Manufacturing: 19,400; +100
- Other Jobs: 17,900; -100
- Construction, Mining: 17,900; -400
- IT & Development: 5,500; no change
Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through January 2022 (Data published March 2022 and reports created on March 18, 2022). Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.
Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.