Unemployment numbers increase again in northern Arkansas, southern Missouri in January

The latest unemployment numbers from the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services and the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center show an increase in January’s unemployment rates in north central Arkansas and southern Missouri counties when compared to December. January is usually a month when unemployment numbers go back up following extra jobs during the Christmas season that are no longer available.

In Baxter County, the rate increased from 3.9% in December to 4.4% in January. Baxter County’s rate is tied for the 44th lowest out of Arkansas’ 75 counties. There are 726 unemployed Baxter County residents out of a work force of 16,588.

Marion County’s rate went up from 4.2% in December to 6% in January, ranking it as tied for the 68th lowest in the state. Marion County has 315 residents out of work from a work force of 5,280.

Fulton County’s unemployment rate increased from 3.8% in December to 4.8% in January, which means they are tied for the 51st lowest rate in the state. Fulton County has a labor force of 3,952 and 189 are unemployed.

The unemployment rate in Izard County went up from 5.4% in December to 6.4% in January, which has them ranked as the 5th highest unemployment rate in the state. There are 258 Izard County residents unemployed out of a work force of 4,047.

In Stone County, the rate increased from 4.3% in December to 5.7% in January. That ranks Stone County tied for 64th in the state. There are 3,986 in the labor force in Stone County with 227 unemployed.

Searcy County’s unemployment rate moved up from 4.4% to 4.7% in January, ranking them tied for 48th lowest in Arkansas. There are 137 people unemployed in Searcy County out of a work force of 2,924.

Boone County saw its rate slide up from 3.4% in December to 3.8% in January, putting them in a tie for the 13th lowest rate in the state. Boone County has a work force of 16,285 with 613 out of work.

Newton County is tied for the state’s 64th lowest unemployment rate at 5.7%, increasing from 3.5% the previous month. Newton County has a labor force of 2,614 with 148 of those unemployed.

Arkansas’ unemployment rate in January was 3.6%, up from 3.4% the previous month.

In southern Missouri, Ozark County’s rate had a big spike, jumping from 6.1% in December to 7.3% in January. Ozark County had 240 unemployed out of a workforce of 3,298.

Douglas County saw its rate go up from 3.7% in December to 4.2% in January. Douglas County has a labor force of 5,203 with 218 unemployed.

Howell County’s rate went up from 3.9% to 4.7% in January. In Howell County, there are 771 unemployed out of a workforce of 16,576.

Taney County’s rate had a huge jump from 3.9% in December to 11.3% in January. Taney County’s labor force is 25,727 with 2,915 unemployed.

Missouri’s unemployment rate decreased from 3.2% in December to 4.4% in January.

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