Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

County Unemployment Dips Slightly, Now 7.5%

Unemployment in Nevada County dropped slightly from April to May, according to figures from the Arkansas Employment Security Division.

However, in May 1995, the jobless rate in the county was 4.6 percent.

The unemployment rate in surrounding counties fluxuated.

Clark County holds the lowest jobless numbers in the state for the second consecutive month with a 2.3 percent rate.

Columbia County, though saw a significant rise in its figures from 5.4 percent to 6.0 percent. Hempstead County's numbers also climbed, rising from 7.0 to 7.4 percent.

In Lafayette County, the climb was even higher as the jobless rate went from 6.5 to 7.1 percent.

Ouachita County's rate fell from 9.8 percent to 9.0 percent, while the date in Pike County showed an increase from 5.0 percent to 5.4 percent.

Looking at the rankings, Clark and Benton counties have the lowest figures with 2.3 percent, as they are tied for first.

Pike County falls in 44th with its 5.4 percent, while Columbia County is 50th, at 6.0 percent. Lafayette County is next in 55th, with its 7.1 percent, followed by Hempstead County (7.4 percent) at 59th.

Nevada County's ranking is 61st, with 7.5 percent, while Ouachita County moves up to 68th, with its 9.0 percent.

Randolph County again has the worst unemployment problem in the state as it ranks 75th with 13.4 percent of its populace out of work.

Eight counties in Arkansas have jobless figures from 2.0 to 2.9 percent, while 10 fall in between 3.0 and 3.9 percent.

The 4.0 to 4.9 division hosts 16 counties, with 15 more counties in the 5.0 to 5.9 percent unemployment bracket.

Five counties record jobless figures from 6.0 to 6.9 percent, with seven falling in between 7.0 to 7.9 percent.

The 8.0 to 8.9 percent region holds six counties, with another five coming in with unemployment rates from 9.0 to 9.9 percent.

Lee and Jackson counties are in the 10.0 to 10.9 division, with Randolph County last with its 13.4 percent rating.

The seasonally adjusted jobless rate for Arkansas is 4.6 percent for May, unchanged from April. However, the state's unemployment figures are still lower than the nation as a whole. According to the ESD figures, the seasonally adjusted rate for the United States is 5.6 percent for May.

Checking the state's four metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers MSA boasts the lowest figure with a 2.4 percent jobless rate. Little Rock-North Little Rock is next with a 3.2 figure, while the Fort Smith MSA is third with 4.9 percent of its workforce needing jobs. Once again, the Pine Bluff MSA is last with a 6.7 percent figure.