Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Jobless Rate Fall In Gurdon, Clark County

Clark County enjoyed a slight decline in its unemployment rate from February to March.

According to information from the Arkansas Employment Security Division, the jobless figures for Clark County dropped from 3.4 percent to 3.2 percent for the recording period.

In surrounding counties, the figures fluxuated somewhat.

Dallas County saw its jobless numbers rise from 7.9 percent to 8.5 percent, while Hot Spring County remained steadfast at 5.6 percent for February and March.

Montgomery County had a decline in its figures, falling from 4.7 percent to 4.0 percent, while Nevada County's numbers climbed from 6.1 percent to 6.6 percent.

In Ouachita County there was no change as the figures stayed at 8.5 percent, while the same could be said for Pike County, with the numbers at 6.0 percent.

Once again, Clark County was in the top five in Arkansas with a low jobless number. In fact, Clark County ranked fifth on the list.

Montgomery County entered the tally in 12th place with its 4.0 percent figure, while Hot Spring County made the cut in 32nd position with a 5.6 percent figure.

Pike County found itself ranked 41st with a 6.0 percent jobless rate, while Nevada County made the list in 45th place at 6.6 percent.

Dallas County jumped in at 58th with its 8.5 percent figures, tied with Ouachita County.

Benton County had the lowest unemployment rate in the state with an almost nonexistent figure of 2.4 percent.

However, on the other end of the spectrum, Jackson County had the highest jobless rate at 12.5 percent.

There were three counties with jobless figures from 2.0 to 2.9 percent, with nine found in the 3.0 to 3.9 percent realm.

An even dozen counties had unemployment numbers from 4.0 to 4.9 percent, while there were 17 with figures from 5.0 to 5.9 percent.

Nine more counties were found in the 6.0 to 6.9 percent bracket, with eight housed in the 7.0 to 7.9 percent division.

Five counties were found in the 8.0 to 8.9 percent category, with another three in the 9.0 to 9.9 percent classification.

Four counties made the list with jobless rates from 10.0 to 10.9 percent, while three were found in the 11.0 to 11.9 percent group.

Three others had unemployment numbers from 12.0 to 12.9 percent. They were Conway County, 12.0 percent, Mississippi County, 12.4 percent, and Jackson County, 12.5 percent

Overall 10 of Arkansas' 75 counties had double-digit unemployment rates.

Looking at the state's five Metropolitan Statistical Areas again shows the Fayetteville-Rogers-Springdale MSA with the lowest jobless figure at 2.5 percent, unchanged for the reporting period.

The Jonesboro MSA and Little Rock-North Little Rock MSA each had figures of 3.7 percent in March.

However, Jonesboro's numbers were 3.9 percent in February, while Little Rock-North Little Rock was at 3.8 percent.

The Fort Smith MSA dropped slightly, falling from 4.2 percent to 4.1 percent.

The Pine Bluff MSA remained unchanged at 7.8 percent.

According to the ESD report, the state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.7 percent in March, up 3/10 of a percent from February's 4.4 percent.

Nationally, the jobless rate rose from 4.0 to 4.1 percent.