September 2024 | Released October 22, 2024

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In September, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 3, rose in 16, and remained unchanged in 32.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.

• In September, payroll jobs rose in 42 states and fell in 8. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.7 percent in Idaho. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.3 percent in Iowa.

Arkansas Employment Snapshot

• In September, Arkansas added 400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.3 percent. In the prior month, Arkansas added 1,100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Arkansas added 18,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.3 percentage points from 3.6 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 254,000 in September, or 0.2 percent. Arkansas is tied for 24th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In September, Arkansas’s private sector added 300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 17,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Arkansas added 1,200 net private payroll jobs.

• In September, employment in Arkansas rose by 4,341, and over the past 12 months it rose by 29,007.

• Arkansas’s labor force participation rate rose to 58.1 percent in September from 58 percent and ranks 45th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.5 percentage points.

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Arkansas Payroll Employment

• Arkansas added 400 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Arkansas added 1,100 jobs. Arkansas nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 254,000 in September, or 0.2 percent. Arkansas is tied for 24th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Arkansas added 300 private sector jobs, or 0 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Arkansas added 1,200 jobs. Arkansas private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 223,000 jobs in September, or 0.2 percent. Arkansas is tied for 19th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during September were Leisure and Hospitality (3,400) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (900).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Professional and Business Services (-1,800) and Financial Activities (-2,300).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (8,800) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (4,500).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Information (-400) and Financial Activities tied with Other Services (-400).

Arkansas Labor Force

The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.

• The labor force participation rate in Arkansas rose to 58.1 percent in September from 58 percent in the prior month.

• Arkansas ranks 45th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Arkansas was 58.5 percent occurring in March 2020, and the 10-year low was 56.4 percent occurring in September 2021.

• The national labor force participation rate remained steady at 62.7 percent in September.