Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Unemployment unchanged since July

Arkansas' unemployment rate has not changed since July.

This is a good report considering the rate was 4.9 percent in June. August and July are hanging on to a 4.6 percent jobless rate.

The nation's unemployment rate has risen sharply to 4.9 percent in August and was just 4.5 percent in July. August of 2000 recorded a 4.1 percent unemployment rate for the United States.

Arkansas Employment Security Department, Director, Ed Rolle said, "With the exception of a 4.9 percent rate recorded in June 2001 Arkansas' unemployment rate has been either 4.5 percent or 4.6 percent each month beginning in April."

The jobless rate has remained in the 4.0 percent to 4.9 percent range since January 1999, with the lowest rate being 4.1 percent in both October and December 2000.

With school starting again in Arkansas, many jobs have become available. School has been responsible for 4,800 jobs being available. This is a normal increase.

The government is hoping to have a better percentage in the coming months however, Tuesday's disaster will have an affect on these numbers.