Higher jobless numbers push Arkansas’ October jobless rate up to 3.1%

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

A continued rise in the number of Arkansans without jobs pushed the state’s jobless rate from 2.9% in September to 3.1% in October. It’s the first time the jobless rate has been at or above 3% since March.

The number of employed in Arkansas during October was an estimated 1,350,628, up 27,041 jobs, or 2.04%, compared with October 2022, and below the 1,352,441 in September, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report posted Friday (Nov. 17). The October numbers are preliminary and subject to revision.

Arkansas’ labor force, the number of people eligible to work, in October was 1,393,177, up 1.6% from the 1,371,549 in October 2022 and above the 1,392,374 in September.

Higher jobless numbers push Arkansas’ October jobless rate up to 3.1%