Arkansas’ unemployment rate remained unchanged for the third month in a row, at 4.4% from May to June, according to a report released Friday by the state Division of Workforce Services.

The report showed Arkansas’ civilian labor force declined by a net 250, the result of 750 fewer employed and 500 more unemployed Arkansans. The U.S. jobless rate was 5.9% in June, up one-tenth of a percentage point from May.

“Arkansas’ unemployment rate remained stable at 4.4 percent for the third consecutive month. Arkansas’ unemployment rate is currently three and four-tenths of a percentage point lower than in June 2020 and is well below the US rate,” BLS Program Operations Manager Susan Price said in a news release.

Compared to June 2020, Arkansas’ nonfarm payroll jobs are up by 53,000. Nine major industry sectors reported growth:

• Leisure and hospitality added 14,000 jobs, with most gains being in food services (9,300). 
• Professional and business services jobs increased by 13,900, mostly in administrative and support services (11,500). 
• Manufacturing added 9,300 jobs, all in durable goods (10,700).
• Trade, transportation and utilities jobs increased by 6,600, with all subsectors reporting expansions including retail trade (4,200). 
• Educational and health services added 6,200 jobs.
• Other services added 3,100 jobs.
• Government was the only sector that lost jobs (2,900), in state government (1,100), excluding education, and in local government-educational services (5,800).
• Financial activities added 1,300 jobs.
• Information added 900 jobs.
• Mining, logging and construction added 600 jobs. 

See original article from Arkansas Business here.