Arkansas unemployment rate increases to 4.1% in November

Arkansas Department of Commerce

The Arkansas Department of Commerce, in partnership with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, has announced that Arkansas’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 4.1% in November, up from 3.9% in September.

Nationally, the United States’ unemployment rate also increased, reaching 4.6% in November, compared to 4.4% in September.

October 2025 civilian labor force data is not available.

Arkansas Civilian Labor Force Trends

Arkansas’s civilian labor force continued to expand in November, increasing to 1,439,250, an uptick of 8,633 individuals since September. Growth was seen in both employment and unemployment figures, with 4,999 more Arkansans employed and 3,634 additional individuals actively seeking work compared to September.

The state’s labor force participation rate climbed to 58.8% in November, reflecting continued engagement in the workforce. When compared to November 2024, Arkansas recorded 13,154 more employed residents and 8,887 more unemployed Arkansans actively seeking work. These changes contributed to a half-percentage-point increase in both the unemployment rate and labor force participation rate over the year.

Nonfarm Payroll Employment Overview

Arkansas’s nonfarm payroll jobs declined by 700 in November. The largest monthly decrease occurred in Professional and Business Services, which lost 1,400 jobs, primarily within Administrative and Support Services, down 1,200 jobs. Other employment losses were relatively small and largely attributed to seasonal fluctuations.

Offsetting some of these losses, Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 2,500 jobs, driven largely by Retail Trade, which gained 2,300 jobs as the holiday shopping season began.

Despite the monthly decline, Arkansas’ labor market remains stronger year-over-year.

Compared to November 2024, nonfarm payroll employment increased by 17,600 jobs statewide. The industries with the largest annual job growth included Leisure and Hospitality (+6,700), Private Education and Health Services (+4,900), and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+4,700). The largest annual decline was reported in Construction, which shed 2,200 jobs over the year.

These figures highlight both short-term fluctuations and longer-term growth trends within Arkansas’s labor market as the state continues to adapt to economic conditions and workforce demand.