Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Unemployment Falls Slightly For County

Unemployment in Nevada County fell slightly from January to February, according to information from the Arkansas Employment Security Division (ESD).

January's jobless rate was 7.8 percent, with the numbers dropping to 7.4 percent in February.

Most of the other counties surrounding Nevada County saw small drops in their unemployment figures, but there were some exceptions.

In Hempstead County, the jobless numbers jumped significantly, rising from 7.3 percent during the first month of the year to 7.9 percent by the end of February.

Lafayette County also saw an increase in the number of its citizens without work. The January figures were 6.7 percent, rising to 7.4 percent in February.

Columbia County had a small increase in its figures, climbing from 6.8 percent to 6.9 percent for the period in question.

The jobless rate in nearby Clark County dropped a tad, going from 3.6 percent to 3.5 percent for the recording period.

Ouachita County was glad to see any kind of drop as its jobless numbers went from 10.9 percent to 10.6 percent.

Pike County's figures also showed a slight decline, going from 5.5 percent to 5.4 percent.

With these numbers in mind, Nevada County ranks 40th, tied with Lafayette County as both had unemployment rates of 7.4 percent.

Clark County was the number 2 county in the state with its 3.5 percent figures, while Pike County entered the foray in 22nd position.

Columbia County was next on the list in 37th place, with Hempstead County ranking 46th of Arkansas's 75 counties.

Ouachita County was ranked 66th overall.

Saline County had the lowest unemployment rate in the state at 3.3 percent, while Bradley County was on the other end of the spectrum with a whopping 13.7 percent figure.

There were six counties with jobless rates from 3.0 to 3.9 percent, and another nine recording unemployment figures from 4.0 to 4.9 percent.

The 5.0 to 5.9 percent bracket enclosed an even dozen counties, while there were 10 recording unemployment stats from 6.0 to 6.9 percent.

There were 11 counties housed in the 7.0 to 7.9 percent range, with seven encapsulated in the 8.0 to 8.9 percent division.

Five counties fell in the 9.0 to 9.9 percent slot, while 10 could be found with jobless figures from 10.0 to 10.9 percent.

Two counties had jobless numbers from 11.0 to 11.9 percent (Mississippi, 11.3, and Lee, 11.5), with one (Jackson, 12.6) recording an unemployment rate from 12.0 to 12.9 percent.

There were also two counties (Randolph, 13.3 and Bradley, 13.7) falling in the 13.0 to 13.9 percent bracket.

Statewide, according to ESD information, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.2 percent in February, down 0.1 percent from a month earlier. The national jobless rate also fell by the same amount, dropping to 4.6 percent.

Looking at the state's five Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), the Fayetteville- Springdale-Rogers MSA again had the lowest unemployment, with its rate remaining unchanged at 3.8 percent.

Pine Bluff, yet again, had the highest jobless rate for a MSA, with its numbers rising from 8.4 percent to 8.6 percent.

The Little Rock-North Little Rock MSA was second, though its figures also rose slightly, going from 4.1 percent to 4.2 percent.

Next was the Jonesboro MSA, changing from 4.5 percent to 4.7 percent.

The Fort Smith MSA had a slight decline in its jobless numbers, falling from 5.7 percent to 5.6 percent.