Arkansas’s unemployment rate increased slightly from 3.3% in November to 3.4% in December, according to the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services in collaboration with the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The national unemployment rate, however, remained steady at 3.7% during December. In December, the civilian labor force in Arkansas declined by 1,147, with the number of employees decreasing by 3,638. However, 2,491 more unemployed individuals in Arkansas began actively seeking employment. Compared to the same month the previous year, there are 18,263 more employees and 446 additional unemployed individuals in Arkansas.

In December, nonfarm payroll jobs in Arkansas increased by 3,400, totaling 1,369,000. The largest gains were in the sectors of Manufacturing, Private Education and Health Services, and Trade-Transportation-Utilities. There was a decline in jobs in the Leisure and Hospitality sector. Compared to December 2022, nonfarm payroll jobs have increased by 14,500. The most significant gains were in Private Education and Health Services, Construction, and Leisure and Hospitality sectors, while the largest decline occurred in the Trade-Transportation-Utilities sector.