Arkansas Labor MarketAugust 2011
E m p l o y m e n t Q u i c k F a c t sUnemployment Rates Nonfarm Payroll Summary
AR Unemployment Rate
US Unemployment Rate
Aug 11 Jul 11 Aug 10
8.3 7.8
9.1 9.1 9.6
Aug 11 Jul 11 Aug 10
Total Nonfarm
Goods Producing Service Providing
1,168,000
1,162,500
1,160,300
216,300 217,400 222,800
951,700 945,100 937,500
Seasonally Adjusted
Nonfarm Payroll Jobs Rise 5,500 in August
Arkansas’ Unemployment Rate Increases to 8.3 Percent
State of Arkansas
E m p l o y m e n t H e a d l i n e s
www.discover.arkansas.gov
Civilian Labor Force (Seasonally Adjusted)State of Arkansas
January 2010 - August 2011
8.2
1,340,000
1,345,000
1,350,000
1,355,000
1,360,000
1,365,000
1,370,000
1,375,000
1,380,000
J F M A M J J A S O N D
2010 2011
Total Nonfarm Goods Producing Mining & Logging Construction Specialty Trade Contractors Manufacturing Durable Goods Nondurable Goods Service Providing Trade, Transportation & Utilities Wholesale Trade Retail Trade Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities Information Financial Activities Finance & Insurance Real Estate & Rental & Leasing Professional & Business Services Professional, Scientific & Technical Management of Companies Administrative & Support Services Educational & Health Services Health Care & Social Assistance Ambulatory Health Care Social Assistance Leisure & Hospitality Arts, Entertainment & Recreation Accommodation & Food Services Accommodation Services Food Services Other Services Government Federal Government State Government Local Government
Nonfarm Payroll Employment
1,168,000216,30010,90048,90028,900
156,50076,40080,100
951,700236,70046,300
129,80060,60015,80049,70035,90013,800
122,10037,20026,20058,700
166,100152,90045,10034,800
108,20012,00096,20012,40083,80045,400
207,70020,70072,700
114,300
1,162,500217,40010,90050,20030,100
156,30075,90080,400
945,100236,80045,500
130,50060,80015,90050,10036,30013,800
121,60038,00026,30057,300
165,100152,50045,50033,700
109,20012,50096,70012,70084,00045,400
201,00021,00071,000
109,000
Aug 11 Jul 11 Aug 10 (NAICS)
Nonfarm Payroll JobsJuly 2011 - August 2011
Arkansas’ nonfarm payroll employment rose 5,500 in August to total 1,168,000. Four major industry sectors posted job gains, more than offsetting declines in five sectors. Government enjoyed the largest increase (+6,700). Gains occurred in state (+1,700) and local (+5,300) government, related to seasonal hiring at public school facilities. Jobs in educational and health services rose 1,000, attributed in large part to increases in social assistance. Employment in construction dropped 1,300, with contract-ing companies reporting employment declines throughout the various specialties. Jobs in leisure and hospitality decreased 1,000. Losses were spread throughout all subsectors.
August 2010 - August 2011
Since August 2010, nonfarm payroll jobs in Arkansas increased 7,700. Eight major industry sectors reported gains, with five adding 1,000 or more jobs, each. Leisure and hospitality added 6,000 jobs. A majority of the growth oc-curred in food services (+4,900). Employment in professional and business services expanded 3,100. Administrative and support services added jobs. Other services expanded 2,000. This sector includes repair and maintenance, personal and laundry services, and membership organizations. Educational and health services increased 1,500. The gains were mainly attrib-uted to increases at private educational facilities. Manufacturing reported the largest over-the-year decline (-5,100).
Hours & Earnings of Arkansas Production Workers (Manufacturing Industries) Average Weekly Earnings Average Weekly Hours Average Hourly Earnings
Aug 11 Jul 11 Aug 10 Aug 11 Jul 11 Aug 10 Aug 11 Jul 11 Aug 10
Manufacturing $582.50 $591.00 $569.25 40.2 41.3 41.4 $14.49 $14.31 $13.75
Durable Goods 637.10 659.24 618.34 39.4 41.1 40.1 16.17 16.04 15.42
Nondurable Goods 532.11 530.79 527.39 40.9 41.5 42.6 13.01 12.79 12.38
State of Arkansas
2
1,160,300222,800
10,70050,50029,200
161,60079,00082,600
937,500236,400
46,800130,300
59,30015,30048,70035,00013,700
119,00037,90026,50054,600
164,600153,600
46,00034,200
102,20011,10091,10012,20078,90043,400
207,90022,20071,400
114,300
SpotlightExtended Mass Layoff Events
3
As discussed in a previous issue (March 2011), the Mass Layoff Sta-tistics (MLS) program collects data on mass layoffs that result in workers being separated from their jobs. A mass layoff occurs when at least 50 initial unemployment insurance (UI) claims are filed against a particular business/company during a consecutive 5-week period. The event is considered a temporary mass layoff if the work-ers are laid off for less than 30 days. If the affected workers are laid off for more than 30 days, the event is considered an extended mass layoff.
While each state’s total mass layoff events are published monthly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, extended mass layoff events are pub-lished on a quarterly basis. Because Arkansas is a relatively small state, quarterly extended layoff statistics cannot always be published due to confidentiality issues (if too few layoffs occur, supplying the number might make the business identifiable). For this reason, it is best to view Arkansas’ extended mass layoff events as a yearly total.
The chart to the right shows the total number of mass layoff events in Arkansas compared to the total number of extended mass layoff
Total Extended % of Total Mass Mass MassYear Layoffs Layoffs Layoffs
2005 52 10 19.2
2006 40 13 32.5
2007 69 32 46.4
2008 116 48 41.4
2009 117 49 41.9
2010 71 31 43.7
Extended Mass Layoffs by Percent of Total2005 - 2010 (All Industries)
events. The percentage of total mass layoffs is also provided. Note that extended events range from a low of 19.2 percent in 2005 to a high of 46.4 percent in 2007.
Below is a graphical representation of total extended mass layoff events from 2005 to 2010 (see Graph 1). Extended events ranged from a low of 10 in 2005 to a high of 49 in 2009. Graph 2 provides the number of total initial UI claims associated with these extended layoff events. Total number of claimants ranged from a low of 1,626 in 2005 to a high of 9,845 in 2009.
Chart 1. Extended Mass Layoff Events2005 - 2010
Chart 2. Initial Claims Related to Extended Events2005 - 2010
0
10
20
30
40
50
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 20100
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Total Nonfarm Goods Producing Mining, Logging & Construction Manufacturing Service Providing Trade, Transportation & Utilities Wholesale Trade Retail Trade Trans., Warehousing & Utilities Information Financial Activities Professional & Business Services Educational & Health Services Leisure & Hospitality Other Services Government Federal Government State Government Local Government
Total Nonfarm Goods Producing Mining, Logging & Construction Manufacturing Service Providing Trade, Transportation & Utilities Wholesale Trade Retail Trade Trans., Warehousing & Utilities Information Financial Activities Professional & Business Services Educational & Health Services Leisure & Hospitality Other Services Government Federal Government State Government Local Government
335,50037,90018,10019,800
297,60064,10016,80035,60011,7007,700
18,60044,80048,60030,60015,10068,1009,400
32,80025,900
(The following counties make up the LR-NLR-Conway MSA: Faulkner, Grant, Lonoke, Perry, Pulaski, and Saline.)
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway MSA
(NAICS) Aug 11 Jul 11 337,000
38,40018,60019,800
298,60063,90016,70035,60011,6007,700
18,70045,20049,00031,50015,20067,4009,600
32,20025,600
Aug 10 337,200
37,60017,50020,100
299,60064,70017,00035,70012,0007,800
18,60044,20050,10030,50015,10068,6009,700
32,30026,600
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers MSA
(The following counties make up the FSR MSA: Benton, Madison, and Washington in Arkansas and McDonald in Missouri.)
197,40035,8008,100
27,700161,60044,2008,900
20,30015,0002,1007,000
34,90021,80019,3006,900
25,4002,4008,200
14,800
197,00036,3008,300
28,000160,70044,4008,900
20,40015,1002,1007,100
34,80021,70019,3006,900
24,4002,4008,000
14,000
200,60037,4008,200
29,200163,20045,1009,000
21,10015,0002,1007,300
34,80021,50018,8006,800
26,8002,6008,400
15,800
Jul 11 (NAICS) Aug 11 Aug 10
Metropolitan Statistical Areas
Nonfarm Payroll Jobs Nonfarm Payroll Jobs
Civilian Labor ForceEmployment UnemploymentUnemployment Rate
Aug 11 Jul 11 Aug 10344,025319,10024,925
7.2
349,950323,60026,350
7.5
342,550318,35024,200
7.1
Civilian Labor Force Statistics
Civilian Labor ForceEmployment UnemploymentUnemployment Rate
Aug 11 Jul 11 Aug 10224,050209,22514,825
6.6
226,225210,65015,575
6.9
227,350212,47514,875
6.5
Civilian Labor Force Statistics
4
Unemployment RatesJanuary 2010 - August 2011
Unemployment RatesAugust: 2005 - 2011
6.0
6.2
6.4
6.6
6.8
7.0
7.2
7.4
7.6
7.8
8.0
J F M A M J J A S O N D
2010 20110.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Fort Smith MSA
Metropolitan Statistical Areas
Total Nonfarm Goods Producing Mining, Logging & Construction Manufacturing Service Providing Trade, Transportation & Utilities Wholesale Trade Retail Trade Trans., Warehousing & Utilities Information Financial Activities Professional & Business Services Educational & Health Services Leisure & Hospitality Other Services Government Federal Government State Government Local Government
117,30028,9007,900
21,00088,40024,0004,000
12,8007,2001,2004,200
12,10016,3009,4003,700
17,5001,6003,300
12,600(The following counties make up the Fort Smith MSA: Crawford, Franklin, and
Sebastian in Arkansas and LeFlore and Sequoyah in Oklahoma.)
(NAICS) Aug 11 Jul 11116,30029,0007,900
21,10087,30024,1004,000
12,9007,2001,2004,200
12,00016,2009,5003,800
16,3001,6003,300
11,400
Aug 10 116,300
29,0007,300
21,70087,30024,3004,000
13,0007,3001,2004,100
11,80016,3008,9003,700
17,0001,7003,000
12,300
Nonfarm Payroll Jobs
Civilian Labor ForceEmployment UnemploymentUnemployment Rate
Aug 11 Jul 11 Aug 10133,700123,17510,525
7.9
134,250123,075
11,1758.3
133,450122,90010,550
7.9
Civilian Labor Force Statistics
Hot Springs MSA
Total Nonfarm Goods Producing Service Providing Government
40,9004,100
36,8004,700
(The following county makes up the Hot Springs MSA: Garland.)
(NAICS) Aug 11 Jul 11 40,700
4,20036,5004,500
Aug 10 37,300
4,20033,1004,700
Nonfarm Payroll Jobs
Civilian Labor ForceEmployment UnemploymentUnemployment Rate
Aug 11 Jul 11 Aug 1045,97542,4003,575
7.8
46,40042,6753,725
8.0
42,25038,8503,400
8.1
Civilian Labor Force Statistics
(The following counties make up the Jonesboro MSA: Craighead and Poinsett.)
(The following counties make up the PB MSA: Cleveland, Jefferson, and Lincoln.)
Jonesboro MSA
Total Nonfarm Goods Producing Service Providing Government
48,8008,500
40,3008,500
(NAICS) Aug 11 Jul 1148,8008,600
40,2008,400
Aug 10 48,900
8,70040,2008,300
Nonfarm Payroll Jobs
Civilian Labor ForceEmployment UnemploymentUnemployment Rate
Aug 11 Jul 11 Aug 1057,85053,4504,400
7.6
58,52553,8504,675
8.0
58,00053,7254,275
7.4
Civilian Labor Force Statistics
Pine Bluff MSA
Total Nonfarm Goods Producing Service Providing Government
36,1007,500
28,60010,000
(NAICS) Aug 11 Jul 1136,1007,600
28,50010,000
Aug 10 36,800
7,50029,30010,500
Nonfarm Payroll Jobs
Civilian Labor ForceEmployment UnemploymentUnemployment Rate
Aug 11 Jul 11 Aug 1043,30038,8004,50010.4
43,87539,0754,80010.9
43,75039,5254,225
9.6
Civilian Labor Force Statistics
5
Nonfarm Payroll JobsAugust: 2005 - 2011
108,000
112,000
116,000
120,000
124,000
128,000
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
ArkansasAshleyBaxterBentonBooneBradleyCalhounCarrollChicotClarkClayCleburneClevelandColumbiaConwayCraigheadCrawfordCrittendenCrossDallasDeshaDrewFaulknerFranklinFultonGarlandGrantGreeneHempsteadHot SpringHowardIndependenceIzardJacksonJeffersonJohnsonLafayetteLawrence
LeeLincolnLittle RiverLoganLonokeMadisonMarionMillerMississippiMonroeMontgomeryNevadaNewtonOuachitaPerryPhillipsPikePoinsettPolkPopePrairiePulaskiRandolphSt. FrancisSalineScottSearcySebastianSevierSharpStoneUnionVan BurenWashingtonWhiteWoodruffYell
9.19.27.57.96.76.39.95.5
10.88.06.68.46.98.67.49.37.78.57.77.98.07.29.2
10.06.87.07.86.66.69.37.9
10.09.46.38.19.16.5
12.010.37.78.96.96.59.36.5
12.09.37.59.88.39.18.7
11.59.28.78.58.69.07.6
10.811.57.17.88.67.88.0
10.110.210.110.06.69.1
12.07.3
11.39.97.38.46.76.58.85.9
11.08.77.49.47.68.88.7
11.28.68.18.08.08.57.3
10.410.76.97.58.27.27.6
10.19.59.69.36.48.7
11.36.8
16.410.28.56.56.99.98.75.8
12.09.9
13.97.37.9
10.18.07.57.8
11.18.6
10.712.411.77.56.87.67.87.1
10.39.07.48.78.89.8
10.610.77.69.89.5
17.710.88.86.87.3
11.010.06.1
12.810.615.17.78.39.98.77.98.3
12.49.2
11.213.612.77.87.77.88.07.1
11.19.37.79.09.2
10.411.611.38.1
10.110.5
15.09.78.56.46.99.37.25.8
10.49.2
10.76.97.09.68.07.17.5
10.08.3
10.510.310.27.36.47.08.16.89.58.97.48.38.18.89.9
10.07.89.59.4
Aug 10 Aug 11 Jul 11 County Aug 10 Jul 11 Aug 11 County
Unemployment Rates by CountyBetween July and August, unemployment rates declined in 70 of Arkansas’ 75 coun-ties. One county (Columbia) posted a jobless rate increase, while four remained stable. Rates ranged from a low of 5.8 percent in Carroll County to a high of 16.4 percent in Arkansas County.
In August, two counties (Carroll and Mill-er) enjoyed unemployment rates at or be-low six percent. Nineteen counties posted rates at or above ten percent, down from 28 counties last month.
Since August 2010, jobless rates are up in 62 counties. Seven counties posted lower rates than this time last year, while six are the same.
Civilian Labor Force Statistics
75593449
54381
7254741327572818256736637371187
2125116046163843526263215249
Rank6954133364
432
663816482143386836312828341361639
18321221574951473
38697
Rank
Civilian Labor Force Employment Unemployment Unemployment Rate
U.S. Unemployment Rate
1,351,0001,245,500
105,5007.8
9.6
Aug 10
State of Arkansas
Aug 111,347,8001,235,800
112,0008.3
9.1
Jul 111,349,8001,239,000
110,8008.2
9.1
(Seasonally Adjusted)
-3,200-9,7006,500
0.5
-0.5
OTY OTM -2,000-3,2001,200
0.1
0.0
1,349,9001,250,600
104,3007.7
9.5
Aug 10 Aug 111,358,2001,249,100
109,1008.0
9.1
Jul 111,371,4001,255,300
116,1008.5
9.3
3,300-1,5004,800
0.3
-0.4
OTYOTM -13,200-6,200-7,000
-0.5
-0.2
(Not Seasonally Adjusted)
Civilian Labor ForceEmployment UnemploymentUnemployment Rate
Aug 11 Jul 11 Aug 10627,100562,75064,350
10.3
631,500565,77565,725
10.4
606,375546,65059,725
9.8
Memphis, Tennessee
Civilian Labor ForceEmployment UnemploymentUnemployment Rate
Aug 11 Jul 11 Aug 1064,77559,6005,175
8.0
64,27559,0005,275
8.2
64,62559,6005,025
7.8
Texarkana, Texas
Out-of-State MSAs
Rate County Rank
Lowest Rates
12344
CarrollMillerWashingtonBentonMadison
5.85.96.46.56.5
Rate County Rank
Highest Rates
72737475
ChicotDeshaClayArkansas
12.012.413.916.4
6
The Arkansas Labor Market is prepared monthly in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The current month’s estimates are preliminary, while previous data are subject to revision.
Estimates of nonfarm payroll jobs show the num-ber of jobs by industry and reflect employment by place of work. Hours and earnings estimates are based on payroll and worker-hour data col-lected for production workers in manufacturing industries.
Industries are classified according to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). All estimates are based on a first quarter 2010 benchmark.
ExplanationofTermsandConcepts
MonthlyBusinessSurveyofEmployers
A monthly sample survey designed to provide industry information on nonfarm payroll jobs. Data are compiled each month from mail surveys and telephone interviews conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in cooperation with Department of Workforce Services. The data are based on establishment records and include all workers, full-or part-time, who received pay during the payroll period which includes the 12th of the
month. Approximately 3,000 Arkansas business establishments are surveyed.
MetropolitanStatisticalArea(MSA)
A term applied by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget to counties that have one or more central cities and that meet specified criteria of population density, commuting patterns and social and economic integration.
CurrentPopulationSurvey(CPS)
A monthly sample survey of the population 16 years of age and over, designed to provide data on the labor force, the employed and the unem-ployed. The survey is conducted each month by the Bureau of the Census for BLS. The information is collected by trained interviewers from a sample of about 60,000 households. The data collected are based on the activity reported for the calendar week including the 12th of the month. Approxi-mately 800 Arkansas households are represented in the sample survey.
CivilianLaborForce
The sum of all employed and unemployed persons 16 years of age or older. Members of the Armed Forces are excluded.
Employment
An estimate of the number of persons who worked any time for pay or profit or worked 15 hours or more as unpaid workers in a family business dur-ing the calendar week which includes the 12th of the month. Also included are those who, although not working, had some job attachment and were not looking for work, and persons involved in labor management disputes.
Unemployment
An estimate of the number of persons who did not have a job, but were available for work and actively seeking work during the calendar week which includes the 12th of the month.
UnemploymentRate
The number of unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force. Unemployment rates in this publication are calculated from unrounded data.
SeasonalAdjustment
A statistical technique applied to monthly data to eliminate changes that normally occur during the year due to seasonal events such as weather, major holidays, shifts in schedules, harvest times, and the opening/closing of schools.
Technical Notes
Civilian Labor Force StatisticsForcompleteCountyLaborForceStatistics,pleasevisitourwebsiteatwww.discover.arkansas.gov
7
Department of Workforce ServicesBureau of Labor StatisticsP.O. Box 2981Little Rock, AR 72203-2981Arkansas Labor Market
August 2011The Arkansas Labor Market is produced by the Department of Workforce Services, Bureau of Labor Statistics. All Statistics are published in cooperation with the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Program
Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.
Voice: 1-800-285-1121TDD: 1-800-285-1131
Mike Beebe- GovernorArtee Williams- DWS Director