Unemployment Declines in North Arkansas, Rises Slightly in Southern Missouri

Unemployment rates showed significant improvement in north-central Arkansas during August, according to data from the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services. In contrast, southern Missouri counties experienced slight increases in joblessness during the same period, as reported by the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center.

Baxter County led the Arkansas counties with a notable decrease in unemployment, dropping from 4.6% in July to 3.8% in August. The county, with a labor force of 17,499, now has 657 unemployed residents. This ties Baxter County for the 25th lowest unemployment rate among Arkansas’ 75 counties.

Marion County also recorded a positive trend, with its rate falling from 6.3% in July to 5.1% in August. Despite the improvement, Marion County’s unemployment rate remains the 9th highest in the state, with 276 unemployed individuals out of a workforce of 5,386.

In Fulton County, unemployment decreased from 5.5% in July to 4.6% in August, ranking it 56th lowest in the state. The county’s workforce stands at 4,070, with 187 residents seeking employment.

Izard County saw its rate decline from 6.4% to 5.3%, though it remains the 5th highest in Arkansas. Out of 4,266 in the county’s labor force, 227 people are unemployed.

Stone County reported a drop from 5.6% in July to 4.4% in August, tying for the 50th lowest rate statewide. The county has 4,231 workers, with 185 unemployed.

Searcy County matched the 25th-lowest rate in the state alongside Baxter County, falling from 4.7% to 3.8%. The county has a labor force of 3,209, of which 126 residents remain unemployed.

Boone County improved from 4.5% in July to 3.7% in August, tying for the 21st lowest rate in the state. Its workforce totals 16,158, with 599 individuals unemployed.

Newton County also reported a decrease, from 5.3% to 4.4%, tying for the 50th lowest rate in Arkansas. The county’s labor force includes 2,629 workers, with 116 people out of work.

Statewide, Arkansas’ unemployment rate dropped slightly from 4.0% in July to 3.9% in August, aligning with a broader national decrease from 4.4% to 4.3% over the same period.

Across the border in southern Missouri, Ozark County saw its unemployment rate climb significantly, from 3.9% to 5.3%. Howell County experienced a similar but less dramatic increase, rising from 3.9% to 4.5%. Taney County’s rate inched up from 4.1% to 4.3%, while Douglas County’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.3%. Missouri’s statewide unemployment rate held steady at 3.9% in August.