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Arkansas Economy
Unemployment was 3.9% in Sep 2026, the 26th lowest of 51 states. Personal income averages $59,320 per person.
- Unemployment rate
- 3.9%
- -0.3 pts in a year
- Labor force
- 1,459,190
- +1.1% in a year
- Income per person
- $59,320
- BEA, 2024
- Average annual pay
- $61,152
- QCEW, 2025
Unemployment rate in Arkansas
Monthly, seasonally adjusted, compared with the U.S.
Show as a table
| Period | Arkansas |
|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | 3.9% |
| Dec 2025 | 4.3% |
| Dec 2024 | 3.7% |
| Dec 2023 | 3.5% |
| Dec 2022 | 3.0% |
| Dec 2021 | 3.2% |
| Dec 2020 | 5.0% |
| Dec 2019 | 3.5% |
| Dec 2018 | 3.7% |
| Dec 2017 | 3.8% |
| Dec 2016 | 3.8% |
| Dec 2015 | 4.3% |
| Dec 2014 | 5.5% |
| Dec 2013 | 6.6% |
| Dec 2012 | 7.2% |
Beta
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics ยท Last updated 09/01/2026
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Counties in Arkansas
Unemployment (Sep 2026, not seasonally adjusted), income per person (BEA) and average pay (QCEW). Largest labor force first.
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| # | County | Unemployment | 1 year | Labor force | Income per person | Average pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pulaski County | 3.8% | -0.5 pts | 207,463 | $67,740 | $65,672 |
| 2 | Benton County | 3.0% | -0.3 pts | 176,262 | $120,594 | $91,099 |
| 3 | Washington County | 3.1% | -0.4 pts | 144,455 | $54,752 | $61,051 |
| 4 | Saline County | 3.2% | -0.3 pts | 69,372 | $56,086 | $48,565 |
| 5 | Faulkner County | 3.4% | -0.4 pts | 69,334 | $52,556 | $51,551 |
| 6 | Sebastian County | 3.6% | -0.5 pts | 60,441 | $51,559 | $55,769 |
| 7 | Craighead County | 3.6% | -0.4 pts | 58,207 | $50,720 | $53,124 |
| 8 | Garland County | 3.7% | -0.7 pts | 44,401 | $53,635 | $47,102 |
| 9 | Lonoke County | 3.3% | -0.4 pts | 38,312 | $53,746 | $43,651 |
| 10 | White County | 3.6% | -0.6 pts | 35,891 | $48,191 | $47,487 |
| 11 | Pope County | 4.4% | -0.4 pts | 28,660 | $45,559 | $51,790 |
| 12 | Crawford County | 3.8% | -0.6 pts | 26,462 | $45,258 | $50,161 |
| 13 | Jefferson County | 5.2% | -1.1 pts | 24,533 | $44,232 | $53,758 |
| 14 | Crittenden County | 4.6% | -1.1 pts | 20,886 | $47,489 | $49,985 |
| 15 | Mississippi County | 3.7% | -1.0 pts | 20,793 | $52,873 | $77,201 |
| 16 | Greene County | 3.9% | -0.6 pts | 19,610 | $44,671 | $49,301 |
| 17 | Independence County | 3.2% | -0.6 pts | 18,990 | $49,157 | $51,300 |
| 18 | Baxter County | 3.8% | -0.8 pts | 17,669 | $48,272 | $47,067 |
| 19 | Miller County | 4.3% | -0.8 pts | 17,139 | $44,980 | $52,391 |
| 20 | Boone County | 3.8% | -0.3 pts | 16,633 | $46,825 | $49,304 |
| 21 | Union County | 4.4% | -0.8 pts | 15,806 | $57,817 | $62,492 |
| 22 | Hot Spring County | 3.9% | -0.7 pts | 13,432 | $41,293 | $50,218 |
| 23 | Carroll County | 3.6% | -0.5 pts | 12,501 | $45,250 | $42,542 |
| 24 | Cleburne County | 4.0% | -0.9 pts | 10,714 | $52,409 | $42,929 |
| 25 | Poinsett County | 3.7% | -0.6 pts | 10,118 | $47,523 | $51,359 |
All 75 counties, A to Z
- Arkansas County
- Ashley County
- Baxter County
- Benton County
- Boone County
- Bradley County
- Calhoun County
- Carroll County
- Chicot County
- Clark County
- Clay County
- Cleburne County
- Cleveland County
- Columbia County
- Conway County
- Craighead County
- Crawford County
- Crittenden County
- Cross County
- Dallas County
- Desha County
- Drew County
- Faulkner County
- Franklin County
- Fulton County
- Garland County
- Grant County
- Greene County
- Hempstead County
- Hot Spring County
- Howard County
- Independence County
- Izard County
- Jackson County
- Jefferson County
- Johnson County
- Lafayette County
- Lawrence County
- Lee County
- Lincoln County
- Little River County
- Logan County
- Lonoke County
- Madison County
- Marion County
- Miller County
- Mississippi County
- Monroe County
- Montgomery County
- Nevada County
- Newton County
- Ouachita County
- Perry County
- Phillips County
- Pike County
- Poinsett County
- Polk County
- Pope County
- Prairie County
- Pulaski County
- Randolph County
- Saline County
- Scott County
- Searcy County
- Sebastian County
- Sevier County
- Sharp County
- St. Francis County
- Stone County
- Union County
- Van Buren County
- Washington County
- White County
- Woodruff County
- Yell County
Jobs and pay by industry in Arkansas
Private employers, annual average 2025 (Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages)
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| Industry | Jobs | 1-year change | Average pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 188,915 | +2.1% | $57,417 |
| Manufacturing | 158,956 | -1.9% | $64,216 |
| Retail trade | 143,001 | -0.5% | $36,809 |
| Accommodation and food services | 117,173 | +1.6% | $22,510 |
| Administrative and support services | 69,177 | -0.3% | $48,051 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 63,357 | +3.1% | $62,269 |
| Professional and technical services | 52,899 | +2.7% | $84,477 |
| Management of companies | 42,485 | +7.3% | $192,471 |
| Finance and insurance | 40,937 | +1.3% | $87,865 |
| Real estate and rental | 15,506 | +0.4% | $55,069 |
| Educational services | 15,378 | +4.1% | $45,746 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 14,582 | +2.8% | $30,540 |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 11,768 | -0.1% | $54,299 |
Government employs 197,708 people (15.1% of all jobs): 21,235 federal, 65,923 state and 110,550 local.
Output and businesses in Arkansas
Bureau of Economic Analysis and Census Bureau
- GDP
- $188B
- 2024, current dollars
- Real GDP growth
- +3.8%
- Adjusted for inflation
- Employer businesses
- 70,452
- 1,120,356 employees
- Retail trade10,56615.0%
- Health care and social assistance9,07212.9%
- Other services7,04110.0%
- Accommodation and food services6,5779.3%
- Construction6,3669.0%
- Professional and technical services6,2608.9%
- Finance and insurance4,5276.4%
- Real estate and rental3,5325.0%
- Wholesale trade3,2594.6%
- Administrative and support services3,1484.5%
Source: BEA Regional Economic Accounts; Census County Business Patterns 2023
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the unemployment rate in Arkansas?
- Arkansas's unemployment rate was 3.9% in Sep 2026, seasonally adjusted, compared with 4.2% for the U.S.
- Which county in Arkansas has the highest unemployment?
- Phillips County has the highest rate at 6.8%, and Woodruff County has the lowest at 3.0% (not seasonally adjusted).
- What is the largest industry in Arkansas?
- Health care and social assistance is the largest private employer with 188,915 jobs, followed by manufacturing (158,956) and retail trade (143,001).
- What is the average salary in Arkansas?
- The average annual pay for jobs covered by unemployment insurance in Arkansas was $61,152 in 2025, or $1,176 a week.
- How big is Arkansas's economy?
- Arkansas's GDP was $188B in 2024, about $60,984 per resident.