Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Jobless Figures Remain Down

By JOHN MILLER

Once again, Clark County is tied with the lowest unemployment figures in the state.

For July, according to information from the Arkansas Employment Security Division, Clark and Saline counties had jobless rates of 2.8 percent.

The highest unemployment rate in the state was in Randolph County at 14.8 percent. A total of 10 counties had double-digit joblessness for July.

Looking at surrounding counties, most saw their jobless numbers rise somewhat.

Dallas County's figures remained the same at 6.7 percent, while Hot Spring County's rate climbed from 4.8 to 5.0 percent.

Montgomery County saw a slight decline in its figures from 3.6 to 3.0 percent during the month. Nevada County remained steady at 8.7 percent.

After several months with unemployment below 10 percent, Ouachita County again returned to double-digit numbers at 10.5 percent, up from 9.8 percent.

Pike County rose from 4.8 percent to 5.7 percent forthe month.

According to the ESD, the increased rates were not unexpected. Recent graduates continue looking for jobs, and vacation shutdowns have placed some manufacturing workers on temporary unpaid leave. This, therefore, has translated into higher unemployment rates.

An examination of rankings shows Clark County number 1, with Montgomery County close behind in third.

Hot Spring County comes in at 26th, while Pike County is ranked 33rd. Dallas County enters the ratings in 41st position, with Nevada County rated 59th. Ouachita County is 69th in the standings.

Clark and Saline counties were the only two with jobless figures between 2.0 and 2.9 percent.

There were nine counties reporting figures from 3.0 to 3.9 percent, and another 14 showing rates from 4.0 to 4.9 percent.

The 5.0 to 5.9 percent bracket carried 10 counties, with 10 more in the 6.0 to 6.9 division. Seven counties registered figures in the 7.0 to 7.9 percent category, and there were nine with rates from 8.0 to 8.9 percent. Four counties registered unemployment between 9.0 and 9.9 percent, with five falling in between 10.0 and 10.9 percent.

Desha, Lee and Bradley counties made up the 11.0 to 11.9 bracket, while Jackson County hit the 12.0 to 12.9 region. Randolph County had the highest rate at 14.8 percent.

Still, though, Arkansas' unemployment numbers were lower than those of the nation as a whole. The state jobless rate rose to 5.3 percent after seasonal adjustments were made, while the U.S. figures are at 5.4 percent.

In looking at the metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers MSA remained with the lowest rate at 3.2 percent overall.

Once again, the Pine Bluff MSA had the highest jobless percentage at an even 8.0 percent.

The Little Rock-North Little Rock MSA was second with its 3.8 percent figure, with the Fort Smith MSA reporting 5.0 unemployment.