Area Unemployment Rates Showing Decline

A large number of southwest Arkansas residents were able to return to work during the month of May after filing for unemployment the previous month due to COVID-19. According to the labor statistics just released for May, three southwest Arkansas counties were in the state’s top nine for having the lowest unemployment rates.

Howard County had the area’s lowest unemployment rate and the fifth lowest in the entire state with a figure of 6.6%.

Sevier County reported the next lowest rate among area counties at 7.1% and was followed closely by Hempstead County with a May figure of 7.2%.

Pike County had the area’s highest unemployment rate of 8.8% in May.

21 of Arkansas’ 75 counties had unemployment figures of at least 10% for the month.