LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas officials say the state’s unemployment rate ticked down by one-tenth of a percentage point in January to 3.8 percent.
The Arkansas Department of Workforce Services says the new numbers indicate a slow but steady decline each month in Arkansas’ unemployment rate since March 2011. The state says 10 major industry sectors posted job losses in January, most of which were typical seasonal declines.
But the number of unemployed Arkansans continues to drop, with 2,098 fewer unemployed residents in January from the month before.
Compared to January 2016, nonfarm payroll jobs in Arkansas are up by 11,800, with more than half of those coming from the educational and health services sector.
Numbers for Pine Bluff and Jefferson County for January are not yet available.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson issued a statement on the issue late Monday afternoon.
“I was pleased to hear that Arkansas again dipped to a record-low 3.8 percent unemployment rate in January,” Hutchinson said. “The fact that our unemployment rate is a full point lower than the national average is a great sign that our state is moving in the right direction when it comes to instituting policies that aid economic growth.
“As governor, I will continue to focus on creating an atmosphere that promotes job creation, spurs economic development and encourages people to move to our state.”