Counties with the highest unemployment in Arkansas

Written by:
Stacker
May 3, 2024
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Counties with the highest unemployment in Arkansas

While today's unemployment rates are significantly lower than the COVID-19 pandemic peak of 14.7% experienced in April 2020, the fear of job losses remains as workers stare down an uncertain economic future.

Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in Arkansas using Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in March 2024, with initial ties broken by the number of unemployed people within that county, though some ties may remain. County-level unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.

Experts have mixed views of a potential recession. The return of student loan payments, continually high gas prices, persistent inflation, and insurance price escalations are just a few of the factors that could limit consumer spending and potentially prompt another recession.

The last economic recession before the pandemic—the Great Recession of 2007-09—sent unemployment rates up to 10% as of October 2009, and a full recovery took years.

But as of April 2024, the national unemployment rate remains relatively low at 3.9%—up slightly from the previous month. Regional and state employment varies widely depending on local economies. Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates by state demonstrate a rather sizable spectrum, ranging from just 2% in North Dakota to 5.3% in California.

Read on to see the counties with the highest unemployment in Arkansas.

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#50. Cleveland County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,042 people (108 unemployed)

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Roberto Galan // Shutterstock

#49. Nevada County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,308 people (119 unemployed)

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#48. Lawrence County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,911 people (249 unemployed)

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jaimie tuchman // Shutterstock

#47. Yell County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,171 people (296 unemployed)

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#46. Poinsett County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,001 people (365 unemployed)

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#45. Hot Spring County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 13,670 people (489 unemployed)

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Sabrina Janelle Gordon // Shutterstock

#44. White County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 34,104 people (1,240 unemployed)

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#43. Sevier County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,493 people (204 unemployed)

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#42. Cross County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,862 people (253 unemployed)

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#41. Randolph County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,123 people (261 unemployed)

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#40. Conway County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,284 people (309 unemployed)

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Sharon Day // Shutterstock

#39. Garland County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 41,342 people (1,515 unemployed)

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#38. Monroe County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 2,459 people (93 unemployed)

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Roberto Galan // Shutterstock

#37. Woodruff County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,926 people (111 unemployed)

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#36. Newton County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,231 people (123 unemployed)

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#35. Fulton County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,538 people (174 unemployed)

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Roberto Galan // Shutterstock

#34. Little River County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,161 people (200 unemployed)

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#33. Columbia County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,891 people (346 unemployed)

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#32. Baxter County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 16,915 people (662 unemployed)

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Roberto Galan // Shutterstock

#31. Miller County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 18,552 people (715 unemployed)

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#30. Crittenden County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 20,097 people (790 unemployed)

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#29. Dallas County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,650 people (105 unemployed)

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#28. Ouachita County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,761 people (388 unemployed)

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Bonita R. Cheshier // Shutterstock

#27. Searcy County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,852 people (118 unemployed)

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#26. Bradley County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,107 people (168 unemployed)

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#25. Stone County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,552 people (188 unemployed)

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#24. Sharp County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,997 people (245 unemployed)

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#23. Van Buren County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,949 people (246 unemployed)

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#22. Clark County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,449 people (350 unemployed)

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#21. Drew County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,415 people (309 unemployed)

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NicholasGeraldinePhotos // Shutterstock

#20. Logan County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,297 people (349 unemployed)

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#19. Cleburne County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,983 people (381 unemployed)

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#18. Jackson County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,402 people (231 unemployed)

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#17. Polk County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,787 people (338 unemployed)

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#16. Marion County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,900 people (259 unemployed)

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#15. Mississippi County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 17,092 people (747 unemployed)

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Tudoran Andrei // Shutterstock

#14. Jefferson County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 25,084 people (1,099 unemployed)

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#13. Clay County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,391 people (242 unemployed)

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#12. Lafayette County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,180 people (101 unemployed)

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#11. Lee County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 2,562 people (118 unemployed)

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#10. Montgomery County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,998 people (141 unemployed)

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#9. Lincoln County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,670 people (173 unemployed)

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#8. Union County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,791 people (704 unemployed)

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#7. Izard County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,450 people (222 unemployed)

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#6. St. Francis County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,454 people (382 unemployed)

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#5. Johnson County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,864 people (499 unemployed)

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#4. Desha County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,992 people (261 unemployed)

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Sabrina Janelle Gordon // Shutterstock

#3. Ashley County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,389 people (354 unemployed)

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#2. Phillips County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,175 people (292 unemployed)

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#1. Chicot County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,842 people (164 unemployed)

This story features data reporting by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

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