LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Jan. 7, 2026) — Today, the Arkansas Department of Commerce, in conjunction with the Bureau of Labor Statistics, announced Arkansas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.1% in November, up from 3.9% in September. The United States unemployment rate reached 4.6% in November, compared to 4.4% in September. Civilian labor force data for October 2025 is not available.*
Arkansas Civilian Labor Force Summary:
- Arkansas’ civilian labor force rose to 1,439,250 in November, an increase of 8,633 since September, with growth in the number of employed (+4,999) and unemployed actively seeking work (+3,634). Arkansas’ labor force participation rate also rose to 58.8%.
- Compared to November 2024, there are 13,154 more employed and 8,887 additional unemployed Arkansans actively seeking work. These increases caused the unemployment rate and the labor force participation rate to rise five-tenths of a percentage point over the year.
Arkansas Nonfarm Payroll Job Summary:
- Nonfarm payroll jobs in Arkansas declined by 700 in November. Professional and Business Services posted the largest decrease (-1,400). Most of the losses were in Administrative and Support Services, down 1,200. Other losses were small and mostly due to seasonal fluctuations. Jobs in Trade-Transportation-Utilities rose by 2,500, with Retail Trade adding 2,300 jobs at the start of the holiday shopping season.
- Compared to November 2024, Arkansas’ nonfarm payroll jobs are up 17,600. Leisure and Hospitality (+6,700), Private Education and Health Services (+4,900), and Trade-Transportation-Utilities (+4,700) reported the largest annual job growth. The greatest loss was in Construction, down 2,200 jobs over the year.
*The Current Population Survey was not conducted in October 2025 due to the lapse in appropriations. This resulted in missing civilian labor force data for October 2025 that cannot be calculated retroactively in real time.
