Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Unemployment Rate Climbs In Nevada County

Unemployment in Nevada County rose by half a point, according to information from the Arkansas Employment Security Division.

The report, given for October, shows the figures climbed from 6.5 percent in September to 7.0 percent in October.

Counties surrounding Nevada saw variations in their jobless numbers as well for the most part.

Clark County remained unchanged from September to October, at 3.0 percent for both months.

Columbia County's rate dropped a bit, from 6.5 percent to 6.2 percent for October.

Hempstead County enjoyed employment stability, with its jobless figures being unchanged at 6.5 percent for the recording period.

Lafayette County, however, witnessed a decent decline in its numbers, dropping from 7.2 percent in September to 6.5 percent in October.

Ouachita County had a slight increase, rising from 9.3 to 9.4 percent for the two months.

In Pike County, the numbers rose somewhat higher, as the rate changed from 4.0 percent in September to 4.5 percent in October.

Looking at where these numbers rank the counties, Clark County is the highest in seventh place for this region, followed by Pike County, with its 4.5 percent figures.

Next on the list is Columbia County at 43rd, with Hempstead and Lafayette counties tied in 46th with 6.5 percent showings.

Nevada enters the list in 56th place, with Ouachita County bringing up the rear in 70th position.

Benton County has the lowest unemployment in the state with a 2.3 percent figure, while Woodruff is on the opposite end of the spectrum in 75th, with 13.3 percent unemployment.

There are six counties with joblessness from 2.0 to 2.9 percent, and 17 showing unemployment rates from 3.0 to 3.9 percent.

Some nine counties fall into the 4.0 to 4.9 percent bracket, with 10 more coming in between 5.0 to 5.9 percent.

The 6.0 to 6.9 percent slot houses 13 counties, while there are nine counties with figures ranging from 7.0 to 7.9 percent.

Five counties have jobless rates from 8.0 to 8.9 percent, with three being ensconced in the 9.0 to 9.9 percent region.

Three of Arkansas' 75 counties suffer from double-digit unemployment.

One, Mississippi, is in the 10.0 to 10.9 percent bracket, with one more, Searcy, in the 12.0 to 12.9 range.

Woodruff County is the only county located in the 13.0 to 13.9 percent area.

A check of the state's five Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) once again shows the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers MSA with the lowest unemployment with a 2.6 percent jobless rate, down from 2.9 percent in September.

And, again, the Pine Bluff MSA has the highest unemployment figures at 6.9 percent, but did enjoy a drop from 7.2 percent from the previous month.

The Little Rock-North Little Rock MSA and Jonesboro MSA each show 3.3 percent jobless rates, though the Little Rock region dropped from 3.4 percent, while the Jonesboro area fell from 3.7 percent.

Then there's the Fort Smith MSA, entering the tally with its unemployment at 4.5 percent, unchanged from the month before.

Arkansas' seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, according to the ESD, was up for October, rising from September's 5.0 percent to 5.4 percent.

Nationally, the jobless rate was unchanged, staying at 4.6 percent.