Overall unemployment rate moved down to 3.1% with the biggest shift in Restaurants & Hotels, which gained 800 roles, based on the most recently available information published in June 2022.

Total employment in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR market declined by 80 jobs in May and the unemployment rate decreased compared to the prior month by 10 bps to 3.1%. The national unemployment rate increased by 4 bps over the same time to 3.4%.

  • Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR unemployment rate is 28 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
  • Unemployment in the market is 140 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
  • Average wages (per hour) declined in May versus prior month by -0.3% and are up compared to last year at this time in the market.
Month over Month Unemployment Change
Year over Year Unemployment Change
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR Unemployment May 2022

For key employment segments of the market, total jobs grew by 0.4% . Key sectors include:

  • Transportation & Utilities: 75,700; +600
  • Government: 67,600; -500
  • Education & Healthcare: 59,300; +300
  • Business Services: 45,400; -100
  • Restaurants & Hotels: 35,400; +800
  • Financial Services: 23,100; +200
  • Manufacturing: 19,700; -200
  • Other Jobs: 18,300; +200
  • Construction, Mining: 17,900; no change
  • IT & Development: 5,500; no change
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR Unemployment by Industry May 2022

Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through May 2022 (Data published June 2022 and reports created on June 29, 2022).  Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.

Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.