|
|
| |
| Mon, Dec. 1, 2008 |  |
 |
|
||
| |
Housing market slump helps propel state unemployment rate upward Saturday, Oct 20, 2007 Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas' unemployment rate rose to 5.7 percent in September partly because of a slump in the housing market, state officials said Friday. The state's unemployment rate, which was 5.5 percent in August, rose more than the national rate, which climbed one-tenth of a percentage point to 4.7 percent last month, according to labor statistics released by the state Department of Workforce Services. "Unemployment in some areas is weak due to the housing market slump. This has affected major industry sectors, especially construction and manufacturing," department spokeswoman Kimberly Friedman said in a news release. The state lost 1,100 construction jobs last month, according to the department. Last year at this time, Arkansas' unemployment rate was 5.4 percent. The number of employed Arkansans grew by 16,300 since August, while the number of unemployed Arkansans rose by 3,700. Since last month, the overall labor force has grown by 20,000 people, according to the department. Nonfarm payroll jobs rose by 13,200 since August to a record high of 1,215,900. Government jobs accounted for the largest increase, up 13,600, behind continued school openings, the department said. The educational and health services sector grew by 2,900 jobs and the professional and business services sector grew by 700 jobs last month. Both sectors rose to record employment levels. Besides the construction sector, the leisure and hospitality sector also saw a loss since August, falling by 1,800 jobs. Since a year ago, nonfarm payroll jobs have increase by 6,100, with growth in eight major industry sectors, the department said. Manufacturing jobs are down by 7,800 compared to the same month last year. |
