Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Jobless Rate Soars

Unemployment in Clark County skyrocketed in March, going from 3.4 percent to a whopping 8.1 percent.

However, according to a release from the Arkansas Employment Security Division, this was not due to the March 1 tornadoes. Instead, it was because of a one-month layoff at a major plant.

Needless to say, this dropped Clark County out of the top spot for lowest unemployment in the state.

Surrounding counties saw their jobless rates fluctuate somewhat. While Clark County's rate was the highest jump in the region, Montgomery County saw its jobless numbers plummet from 8-1 percent to 5.2 percent during the month.

In Dallas County, the figures changed from 8.7 percent in February to 9.1 percent in March. Meanwhile, in Hot Spring County, the unemployment rate went from 7.1 percent to 6.3 percent during the recording period.

Nevada County saw its jobless figure climb from 7.5 percent to 8.3 percent, while Ouachita County was a steady 9.9 percent. Pike County's jobless figures declined slightly, going from 6.4 percent to 6.3 percent.

With the plant being closed for a month, Clark County went from being in the top five counties with the lowest jobless rates to 51st, tied with Columbia County at 8.1 percent.

Montgomery County, with its drop, jumped to 18th place out of the state's 75 counties. Hot Spring County entered the foray in 36th place, tied with Pike County as each had 6.3 percent figures.

Nevada County ranks 53rd with its 8.3 percent numbers, while Dallas County is 60th with a 9.1 percent jobless rate.

Ouachita County comes in at 67th at 9.9 percent.

Benton County is alone atop the chart with its 3.0 percent rate. It is followed by Saline County (3.3 percent), Scott County (3.5 percent), Pulaski and Washington counties (3.6 percent), Franklin County (3.8 percent) and Lonoke County (3.9 percent).

There are eight counties with unemployment rates from 4.0 to 4.9 percent, while 15 have figures ranging from 5.0 to 5.9 percent.

A total of 14 counties fall in the 6.0 to 6.9 percent bracket, while six counties make up the 7.0 to 7.9 percent division.

Nine counties fall in the 8.0 to 8.9 percent category, with another eight in the 9.0 to 9.9 region.

There are eight counties in Arkansas with jobless rates at 10 percent and above.

These begin with Mississippi County (10.2 percent) followed by Phillips County (10.4 percent) for the 10.0 to 10.9 portion.

Two counties have rates from 11.0 to 11.9 percent, Prairie (11.3) and St. Francis (11.5).

Another two counties compose the 12.0 to 12.9 percent segment of the chart. They are Jackson County (12.0 percent) and Randolph County (12.4). This is the first time in months Randolph County has not had the highest unemployment rate in the state.

Bradley County falls in as the lone county in the 13.0 to 13.9 bracket with a 13.7 percent figure.

But, Lee County, with its 14.3 percent unemployment rate, has the worst employment figures in Arkansas.

According to the ESD, the state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 5.4 percent for the fourth month in a row. The national figures dropped 0.1 percentage point to 5.2 percent.

Looking at the state's Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers MSA again had the lowest figures at 3.3 percent. And, again, the Pine Bluff MSA had the highest jobless rate at 7.8 percent.

The Little Rock-North Little Rock MSA was 3.9 percent, while the Jonesboro MSA was 4.6 percent. Fort Smith's MSA was 5.2 percent for the month.