Overall unemployment rate moved down to 2.5% with the biggest shift in Restaurants & Hotels, which gained 800 roles, based on the most recently available information published in May 2023.
Total employment in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR market rose by 2,135 jobs in March and the unemployment rate decreased compared to the prior month by 20 bps to 2.5%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 27 bps over the same time to 3.6%.
- Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR unemployment rate is 112 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
- Unemployment in the market is 60 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
- Average wages (per hour) grew in March versus prior month by 10.8% 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: 78,300; no change
- Government: 69,500; +200
- Education & Healthcare: 62,800; -200
- Business Services: 47,100; -700
- Restaurants & Hotels: 33,900; +800
- Financial Services: 24,200; no change
- Manufacturing: 19,800; -100
- Construction, Mining: 19,300; +200
- Other Jobs: 19,200; +100
- IT & Development: 5,700; -100
Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through March 2023 (Data published May 2023 and reports created on May 9,2023). Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.
Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.