Unemployment numbers improve in northern AR, steady in southern MO in August

The latest unemployment numbers from the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services and the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center show unemployment rates improved in north central Arkansas and were generally steady in southern Missouri in August when compared to the July numbers.

In Baxter County, the rate decreased from 4.6% in July to 4.5% in August. Baxter County’s rate is tied for the 36th lowest out of Arkansas’ 75 counties. There are 759 unemployed Baxter County residents out of a work force of 16,849.

Marion County’s rate went down from 6.5% in July to 6.1% in August, which is the 7th highest rate in the state. Marion County has 323 residents out of work from a labor force of 4,946.

Fulton County’s unemployment rate declined from 5.5% in July to 5.4% in August, which means they are tied for the 57th lowest rate in the state. Fulton County has a labor force of 3,932 and 212 are unemployed.

The unemployment rate in Izard County went down from 7.2% in July to 6.9% in August, which is the 3rd highest unemployment rate in the state. There are 278 Izard County residents unemployed out of a work force of 4,029.

Stone County had the only rate increase in northern Arkansas, going from 5.8% in July to 5.9% in August. That ranks Stone County tied for 65th in the state. There are 4,178 in the labor force in Stone County with 246 unemployed.

Searcy County’s unemployment rate moved down from 4.6% to 4.2% in August, ranking them tied for 22nd lowest in Arkansas. There are 135 people unemployed in Searcy County out of a work force of 3,180.

Boone County saw its rate slide down from 4.8% in July to 4.2% in August, putting them in a tie for the 42nd lowest rate in the state. Boone County has a work force of 16,198 with 680 out of work.

Newton County is tied for the state’s 42nd lowest unemployment rate at 4.7%, down from 5.1% the previous month. Newton County has a labor force of 2,633 with 124 of those unemployed.

Arkansas’s state unemployment rate in August was 3.8%, up from 3.7% in July.

In southern Missouri, Ozark County’s rate was at 6.3% in July, the same as in August. Ozark County had 209 unemployed out of a workforce of 3,086.

Douglas County saw its rate stay at 5.3% in July, the same as in August. Douglas County has a labor force of 4,819 with 254 unemployed.

Howell County’s rate went down from 5.9% to 5.3% in August. In Howell County, there are 876 unemployed out of a workforce of 16,456.

Taney County’s rate had an increase from 4.7% in July to 5% in August. Taney County’s labor force is 28,154 with 1,398 unemployed.

Missouri’s state unemployment rate decreased from 4.7% in July to 4.5% in August.

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