December numbers in Northwest Arkansas’ labor market were mixed. The jobless rate and the number of employed declined compared to November, but the numbers were across-the-board positive compared to December 2013.
The jobless rate in the metro area during December was 4.1%, up from 3.9% in November and below the 5.1% in December 2013. The area jobless rate has been at or below 6% for 18 consecutive months, and below 5% the previous five months.
Metro employment during December of 224,509 was below the 225,630 in November, but above the 222,156 in December 2013, according to figures released from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The December numbers are subject to revision.
The size of the Northwest Arkansas regional workforce during December was estimated at 234,132, down from the 234,831 in November, but above the 233,996 during December 2013. The average annual monthly labor size was 234,412 in 2013, 232,208 during 2012, 228,918 during 2011 and 225,974 during 2010.
All of the eight metro areas in or connected to Arkansas had jobless rate declines in December compared to December 2013. Five metro areas (Northwest Arkansas, Hot Springs, Jonesboro, Little Rock and Pine Bluff) had jobless rate increases compared to November, and two metro areas (Fort Smith and Memphis-West Memphis) were unchanged compared to November. For the second consecutive month, only the Texarkana metro area had a jobless rate decline compared to November and December 2013.
During December, the lowest metro jobless rate in the state was 4.1% in Northwest Arkansas and the highest rate was 7.6% in the Memphis-West Memphis area.
NWAMETRO NUMBERS
Following are other key figures from the BLS metro report.
Unemployed persons in the region totaled 9,623 during December, up from the 9,201 during November and well below the 11,840 during December 2013.
Jobs in the Trade, Transportation and Utilities sector — the region’s largest job sector — totaled 48,300 in December, above the 47,800 during November, and down from the 49,600 in December 2013. The sector reached record employment of 50,500 in December 2006.
The Northwest Arkansas manufacturing sector employed an estimated 26,200 in December, unchanged compared to November, but down from the 26,400 during December 2013. Sector employment is down more than 21% from more than a decade ago when December 2004 manufacturing employment in the metro area stood at 33,300.
Employment in the region’s tourism industry was 22,300 during December, down from a revised 22,500 in November but ahead of the 21,100 in December 2013. Sector employment reached a record of 22,800 in September. Employment in the regional sector is up 45.7% compared to the 15,300 employed in December 2004.
In Education & Health Services, employment was 25,400 during December, down from 25,500 in November and up from 24,800 during December 2013. The November employment set a new record for the sector.
In the Government sector, employment was 33,200 during December, down from 33,800 in November and up compared to 32,300 during December 2013.
NATIONAL NUMBERS
Unemployment rates were lower in December than a year earlier in 341 of the 372 metropolitan areas, higher in 25 areas, and unchanged in six areas, noted the broad BLS report.
The U.S. unemployment rate in December was 5.6%, down from 5.8% in November and down from 6.7% from a year earlier. Arkansas’ jobless rate was 5.7% in December, down from 5.9% in November and down from 7.4% in December 2013.
Oklahoma’s jobless rate during December was 4.2%, down from 4.4% in November, and down compared to 5.4% in December 2013. The Missouri jobless rate during December was 5.4%, down from 5.6% in November and below the 6% in December 2013.
ARKANSAS METRO AREAS
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers
Dec. 2014: 4.1%
Nov. 2014: 3.9%
Dec. 2013: 5.1%
Fort Smith
Dec. 2014: 5.5%
Nov. 2014: 5.5%
Dec. 2013: 7.7%
Hot Springs
Dec. 2014: 6%
Nov. 2014: 5.8%
Dec. 2013: 7.5%
Jonesboro
Dec. 2014: 5.1%
Nov. 2014: 4.8%
Dec. 2013: 6.6%
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway
Dec. 2014: 5%
Nov. 2014: 4.8%
Dec. 2013: 6.3%
Memphis-West Memphis
Dec. 2014: 7.6%
Nov. 2014: 7.6%
Dec. 2013: 8.5%
Pine Bluff
Dec. 2014: 7.2%
Nov. 2014: 6.8%
Dec. 2013: 9.7%
Texarkana
Dec. 2014: 5%
Nov. 2014: 5.2%
Dec. 2013: 7%
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS METRO AREA HISTORY
Past annual average unemployment rates
2013: 5.7%
2012: 5.6%
2011: 6.2%
2010: 6.4%
2009: 6.2%
2008: 4.1%
2007: 3.8%
2006: 3.6%
2005: 3.3%
2004: 3.8%
2003: 3.7%
2002: 3.3%
2001: 3%
2000: 2.9%