Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Jobless Rate Falls

Nevada County got some good news on the employment front as the jobless rate fell from 5.6 percent to 5.0 percent in April.

According to information from the Arkansas Employment Security Division, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate across the state fell from 4.4 percent to 4.3 percent from March to April.

This is the lowest rate in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' seasonally adjusted series dating back to 1978.

In fact, the jobless figures in all counties surrounding Nevada County fell from March to April.

Clark County's drop was small, going from 3.1 percent to 2.9 percent, but still significant.

In Columbia County, the figures went from 5.9 percent to 5.4 percent, with the numbers in Hempstead County going from 5.3 percent to 4.8 percent for the reporting period.

Lafayette County enjoyed a huge drop in its jobless rate, as the numbers plummeted from 7.2 percent in March to 5.8 percent in April.

Ouachita County had a healthy drop in unemployment as well, falling from 8.9 percent to 7.6 percent.

In Pike County, the fall was a full percentage point, as the jobless rate went from 5.4 percent to 4.4 percent.

Looking at where the counties rank based on the jobless rate, Clark County enters the list in ninth place.

Pike County enters the tally ranked 35th, while Hempstead County is close behind in 39th.

Nevada County comes in at number 40, while Columbia County is 45th.

Lafayette County joins the list at number 50, with Ouachita County rated number 64.

The lowest unemployment rate in the state belongs to Scott County at an even 2.0 percent. On the other side, Woodruff County had the highest jobless figures at 10.6 percent.

A total of 11 counties had jobless rates from 2.0 to 2.9 percent in April, with 14 falling within the confines of 3.0 to 3.9 percent.

There are 14 more counties with unemployment rates from 4.0 to 4.9 percent, and 13 others within the 5.0 to 5.9 percent division.

The 6.0 to 6.9 percent bracket houses nine counties, with only four to be found in the 7.0 to 7.9 percent region.

Six counties registered jobless rates from 8.0 to 8.9 percent, with only one being found in the 9.0 to 9.9 percent bracket.

There were three counties with double-digit unemployment, all in the 10.0 to 10.9 percent confines.

It was a downhill run for the state's five Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) as well, with each and every one experiencing declines in unemployment.

Once again, the Fayetteville-Rogers-Springdale MSA had the lowest jobless figures, falling from 2.6 to 2.3 percent.

The Little Rock-North Little Rock MSA was next on the list, dropping from 3.1 to 2.7 percent, with Jonesboro close behind, going from 3.4 to 3.0 percent.

The Fort Smith MSA saw its jobless rate fall from 4.3 to 3.7 percent.

Pine Bluff's MSA fell from 7.1 to 6.6 percent during the reporting period.

Nationally, the unemployment rate rose slightly, climbing from 4.2 to 4.3 percent.