When it comes to employment in the state of Arkansas, someone must be doing something right.
A one-tenth of a point in percentage drop announced on Friday in the Arkansas unemployment rate continues a trend that started in March 2011.
The number of people employed statewide, more than 1.3 million, was the highest since the summer of 2008. That number represents the highest number of people employed in Arkansas since records have been kept on employment rates.
The number of people employed in the state has risen every month for seventy-four consecutive months.
The state’s unemployment rate beat the national rate, which is 4.5 percent, by over a full percentage point.
Governor Asa Hutchison, who has seen the creation of over 72,000 jobs state wide since taking office, celebrated the good economic news.
“The state’s labor force participation continues to increase with more jobs being added to the private sector, and the total number of Arkansans employed since January 2015 has risen to 74,500, up from 70,200 from last month,” said Htchison.
“These are terrific reminders that our economy is on the right track. As we continue to attract new industry and expand existing employers, we will have a greater need for effective work-force education efforts,” said Hutchison. “I am confident we can meet the ongoing needs of employers. ”
The unemployment rate in April 2015, the year Governor Hutchinson took office, was 5.5 percent. A year later, it had fallen to 3.9 percent in April 2016.
