The latest unemployment report from the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services shows unemployment rates improved across several North Arkansas counties in August compared to July.
Fulton County's unemployment rate dropped from 5.5% in July to 4.6% in August. Out of a labor force of 4,070 people, 187 county residents were unemployed last month, according to official data.
Izard County also reported progress, with its unemployment rate decreasing from 6% in July to 5.3% in August. Despite the improvement, Izard County maintains the fifth-highest unemployment rate in the state, with 227 residents out of work from a labor force of 4,266.
Elsewhere in North Arkansas, Sharp County's unemployment fell to 5.5% in August, while Lawrence County recorded a rate of 6.1%, and Randolph County logged at 5.9%.
Statewide, Arkansas saw its unemployment rate decline slightly from 4% in July to 3.9% in August, reflecting an overall positive trend.
The report provides a snapshot of local economic conditions during late summer, with unemployment rates varying across regions of the state.