Counties with the highest unemployment in Arkansas
In November, the national unemployment rate changed very little from October, rising from 4.1% to 4.2%. It's been slightly elevated in recent months compared to levels a year ago—likely a symptom of the Federal Reserve's higher interest rates, which can slow hiring and decrease job openings. It's up from 3.7% the year before, but for comparison, unemployment rates surged to 10% in October 2009 during the Great Recession, and a full recovery took years. At the height of the brief COVID-19 recession in April 2020, unemployment hit 14.7%.
To get a glimpse of regional variations in employment, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in Arkansas using Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in October 2024, with initial ties broken by the number of unemployed people within that county, though some ties may remain. County-level unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.
Despite the slight uptick in unemployment, the labor market added 227,000 jobs in November, according to the BLS.
In the private sector, employment increased by 146,000 jobs, with 50,000 jobs added in education and health services and another 28,000 jobs in trade, transportation, and utilities, according to ADP's National Employment Report. While Sun Belt states saw growth in manufacturing roles, other jobs diminished in the sector across the Rust Belt, which continues to see losses.
The labor market forecast for 2025 is still somewhat uncertain. The reelection of Donald Trump and his proposal to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico may send ripples throughout the economy. A tariff increase could create an inflationary environment, shifting the labor market as inflation inches toward the 2% goal.
To get a better idea of your community's current economy, read on to see the counties with the highest unemployment in Arkansas.
#25. Miller County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 18,883 people (637 unemployed)
#24. Pike County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,965 people (138 unemployed)
#23. Logan County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,208 people (291 unemployed)
#22. Columbia County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,024 people (316 unemployed)
#21. Jackson County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,396 people (197 unemployed)
#20. Mississippi County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 19,092 people (711 unemployed)
#19. Ouachita County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 9,806 people (368 unemployed)
#18. Montgomery County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,820 people (111 unemployed)
#17. Drew County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,647 people (297 unemployed)
#16. Clark County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,997 people (362 unemployed)
#15. Izard County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,865 people (201 unemployed)
#14. Bradley County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,087 people (170 unemployed)
#13. Lincoln County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,672 people (159 unemployed)
#12. Crittenden County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 20,497 people (891 unemployed)
#11. Jefferson County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 25,410 people (1,124 unemployed)
#10. Johnson County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,525 people (425 unemployed)
#9. Lafayette County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,241 people (102 unemployed)
#8. Lee County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,468 people (116 unemployed)
#7. Monroe County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,389 people (116 unemployed)
#6. Ashley County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,685 people (349 unemployed)
#5. Union County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,768 people (766 unemployed)
#4. Desha County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,710 people (251 unemployed)
#3. St. Francis County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,478 people (394 unemployed)
#2. Phillips County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,055 people (276 unemployed)
#1. Chicot County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,766 people (174 unemployed)
This story features data reporting and writing by Dom DiFurio and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
