Arkansas Employment Report
September 2025
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Dec. 9, 2025) — The Arkansas Department of Commerce, in conjunction with the Bureau of Labor Statistics, announced today that Arkansas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose slightly, from 3.8% in August to 3.9% in September. The U.S. unemployment rate also increased by one-tenth of a percentage point, to 4.4%.
Arkansas Civilian Labor Force Summary
- The civilian labor force and number of employed Arkansans remained at record levels in September. The civilian labor force increased by 3,437 over the month, with 1,546 more employed residents and 1,891 additional unemployed and actively looking for work. While the increase in unemployed individuals led to a slight uptick in the unemployment rate, growth in the civilian labor force boosted the state’s labor force participation rate to 58.5%.
- Compared to September 2024, there are 9,049 more employed and 6,047 more unemployed Arkansans seeking work. The unemployment rate is up four-tenths of a percentage point over the year.
Arkansas Nonfarm Payroll Job Summary
- Nonfarm payroll jobs in Arkansas increased by 16,000 in September, reaching a record of 1,393,300 jobs. Most of the growth was seasonal and tied to the start of the 2025–2026 school year. Government added 13,100 jobs, all in Local Government-Educational Services (+9,200) and State Government-Educational Services (+4,600). Private Education and Health Services rose by 2,400, with 1,700 more jobs in Private Educational Services.
- Compared to September 2024, there are 22,700 more jobs in the state. The largest increase was in Private Education and Health Services, which added 8,800 jobs. Other notable gains occurred in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+4,900), Leisure and Hospitality (+4,700), Professional and Business Services (+3,500), and Manufacturing (+2,200).
