Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Unemployment Down

Clark County's unemployment rate took a nosedive from March to April, according to the Arkansas Employment Security Division (ESD).

The ESD's report showed a massive drop from the March figures of 8.0 percent, due to a major plant laying off its work force for a month, to the more normal 2.9 percent in April, putting Clark County third in the state with the lowest unemployment figures.

And, interestingly enough, the jobless rates in surrounding counties also showed progress from March to April, with all figures dropping.

In Dallas County, the unemployment figures fell from 9.1 percent to 7.2 percent for the reporting period, while Hot Spring County saw a decline from 6.3 to 4.9 percent.

Montgomery County's jobless numbers dropped a two full percentage points, going from 5.2 to 3.2 percent from March to April.

Nevada County's numbers were even better though, falling from 8.2 percent in March to 6.0 percent in April.

The rate in Ouachita County dropped from 9.8 percent to 8.6 percent, while the figures from Pike County went from 6.3 percent to 4.4 percent.

In March, seven of Arkansas' 75 counties had unemployment rates above the 10 percent mark. This number also declined in April as four of these counties were able to get more of their people working. This left only three counties with double-digit jobless figures.

Checking the counties' rankings based on the unemployment figures, Clark County comes in at third, tied with Saline and Washington counties, at 2.9 percent.

Benton County leads the list with a 2.4 percent rate, while Scott County follows with 2.6 percent figures.

Montgomery County is on the tally sheet at number 9, with Pike County listed at number 27. Hot Spring County follows in 34th position, while Nevada County is ranked 48th.

Dallas County enters the foray in the 62nd slot, while Ouachita County is ranked 70th.

Five counties have jobless figures from 2.0 to 2.9 percent (Benton, 2.4, Scott, 2.6, and Clark, Saline and Washington, 2.9).

There are 12 counties with figures from 3.0 to 3.9 percent, and a whopping 20 counties falling into the 4.0 to 4.9 percent bracket.

Another 10 counties come in with numbers in the 5.0 to 5.9 percent range, while the 6.0 to 6.9 percent category boasts 11 counties.

Eight counties comprise the 7.0 to 7.9 percent region, while there are five counties in the 8.0 to 8.9 percent slot.

Jackson County is the lone representative of the 9.0 to 9.9 percent division with its 9.3 percent figures.

Two counties are in the 10.0 to 10.9 percent set: Randolph, 10.1 percent, and Lee, 10.5 percent.

Bradley brings up the rear, ranking 75th in the state with its 12. 4 percent figure.

Interestingly, the unemployment rate in the state fell in 74 of the 75 counties, staying the same in Searcy County, which remained at 6.0 percent in March and April.

According to the ESD, Arkansas' seasonally adjusted jobless rate fell to 4.6 percent in April, tying it with April and May of 1995 for the lowest unemployment rate on record in the current series. The national figures also showed a decline, falling from 5.2 percent to 4.9 percent.

The numbers also dropped in the state's five Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) as well.

The Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers MSA again had the lowest figures, falling from 3.3 percent in March to 2.7 percent in April.

The Little Rock-North Little Rock MSA came in second of the five, going from 4.0 to 3.4 percent during the reporting period.

In third place was the Jonesboro MSA, with numbers going from 4.7 to 3.7 percent.

Next was the Fort Smith MSA, 5.2 to 4.3 percent, followed by the Pine Bluff MSA, which showed a decline from 7.8 percent to 6.6 percent.