Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Unemployment Remains Low At 2.6 Percent in Clark County

Clark County's unemployment rate is in a more accustomed place at 2.6 percent.

This information comes from the Arkansas Employment Security Division. The jobless rate for Clark County in September was 2.9 percent.

While the rates fell in most counties surrounding Clark, it did rise in some. Montgomery County's figures went up from 2.4 percent to 3.1 percent, while the statistics in Nevada County showed an increase from 5.5 to 5.9 percent. The jobless figures also rose in Ouachita County, going from 8.5 to 9.1 percent.

Otherwise, the rates fell. Dallas County went from 5.4 to 4.8 percent, while Hot Spring County went from 5.3 to 4.9 percent for the reporting period.

In Pike County, the numbers had a slight decline, falling from 4.3 percent to 4.0 percent.

Looking at where counties rank according to their jobless figures, Clark County is third. Montgomery County enters the list in 10th place, while Pike County is tendered at 24th.

Dallas County's 4.8 percent numbers were good enough for a 36th place ranking, with Hot Spring County close on its heels in 39th place.

Nevada County is ranked 50th on the list, with Ouachita County being 74th.

Seven of Arkansas' 75 counties fell within the confines of the 2.0 to 2.9 percent unemployment rate, while 16 were housed in the 3.0 to 3.9 percent bracket.

There were 17 counties with jobless rates of 4.0 to 4.9 percent, and another 13 falling in the 5.0 to 5.9 percent category.

The 6.0 to 6.9 percent divisions housed 13 counties, with only three counties falling in the 7.0 to 7.9 percent segment.

Four counties made up the 8.0 to 8.9 percent sections, with one (Ouachita) in the 9.0 to 9.9 percent range.

Searcy was the only county in Arkansas with a jobless rate in the10.0 to 1.9 percent area, with a 10.5 percent figure.

Arkansas' seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell in October, for the third consecutive month. The rate dropped two-tenths of a point to an even 5.0 percent.

Nationally, the jobless rate also fell two-tenths of a point to 4.7 percent.

The jobless rates across the state were lower in 61 of the 75 counties, while rising in 12 and staying the same in two.

Checking the state's Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), the Fayetteville- Springdale-Rogers MSA was again the lowest in unemployment, falling from 2.8 percent in September to 2.6 percent in October.

And, again, the Pine Bluff MSA had the highest unemployment ranking of the five MSAs, though it, too, saw a decline, going from 7.5 to 6.7 percent.

The Jonesboro MSA was second, with a drop from 4.0 percent in September to 3.3 percent in October.

The Jonesboro change dislodged the Little Rock-North Little Rock MSA from its usual position, as its figures also fell, going from 3.8 to 3.5 percent.

The Fort Smith MSA was the only one to see an increase in its unemployment figures, as the rate rose from 4.7 to 5.2 percent for the recording period.