Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Jobless Rate Now Approaching 6%

Up was the direction the unemployment rate went for Nevada and surrounding counties in January, according to the Arkansas Employment Security Divsion.

In fact, unemployment rose in 73 of the state's 75 counties during the month. The two counties where the figures fell were Little River, from 5.0 to 4.9 percent, and Sevier, where the change was also 0.1 percent, going from3.7 to 3.6 percent.

Nevada County saw its jobless figure rise from 4.7 percent in December to 5.7 percent for January.

In Clark County, the unemployment numbers nearly doubled, going from 2.7 percent to 4.1 percent during the recording period.

Columbia County's figures climbed form 4.6 percent to 6.3 percent, while Hempstead County jumped from3.8 percent to 4.7 percent.

The figures in Lafayette County were 2.6 percent higher in January than December, rising from 5.0 to 7.6 percent.

Ouachita County saw its unemployment rate rise 1.5 percent, going from 6.0 percent to 7.5 percent, while Pike County's numbers increased from 4.5 percent to 6.6 percent.

Even the normally solid northwest sector of the state wasn't immune from rising unemployment, as Benton County went from 1.7 to 2.2 percent and Washington County rose from 1.7 to 2.3 percent.

In addition, nine counties had double-digit unemployment for the reporting period, with the highest being Desha County's 13.7 percent.

Looking at where counties ranked according to their jobless figures, Clark County was 12th, with Hempstead County entering the list in 20th place.

Nevada County made the tally in 28th place, with Columbia County coming in 39th.

Pike County was ranked 42nd, with Ouachita County 49th and Lafayette County 50th.

Only two counties had jobless figures between 2.0 and 2.9 percent (Benton and Washington).

There were nine counties falling in the 3.0 to 3.9 percent bracket, and 12 reporting figures from 4.0 to 4.9 percent.

The 5.0 to 5.9 percent division housed11 counties, while there were 13 counties with unemployment rates from 6.0 to 6.9 percent.

Eight counties registered jobless rates from 7.0 to7.9 percent, with seven contained in the 8.0 to 8.9 percent slot.

Four counties registered figures from 9.0 to 9.9 percent, with six falling in the 10.0 to 10.9 percent section.

Two counties had jobless numbers from 11.0 to 11.9 percent, with Desha County the only one in the 13.0 to 1.39 percent position.

The state's Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) all saw their unemployment figures rise during the month as well.

Still, the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers MSA had the lowest rate at 2.3 percent, up from 1.7 percent a month earlier.

Next was the Little Rock-North Little Rock MSA at 3.7 percent, up from 2.9 percent.

The Fort Smith MSA ranked third with 3.8 percent figures, also up from 3.0 percent in December.

The Jonesboro MSA's numbers rose from 3.6 percent to 4.3 percent, while the Pine Bluff MSA rose the highest, going from 6.7 percent to 8.7 percent.

Statewide, the unemployment rate rose from 4.1 percent to 4.3 percent, while the national average also rose 0.2 percent, from 4.0 percent to 4.2 percent.