Employment in Area Remains Steady

A new report from the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service and information provided by the Bureau of Economic Analysis shows employment grew 6.5% statewide between 2010 and 2017, but growth was largely limited to urban counties. Of Arkansas’ 62 rural counties, 50 counties or 80%, had lower employment in 2017 than in 2010.

Howard and Pike Counties have largely remained unaffected and have seen slight growth in employment during the same years, while neighboring Sevier and Little River counties have seen large drops in employment.

The report states that there are many factors driving this trend in declining employment in rural counties. Part of the decline is related to a continuing shift from manufacturing to service sector jobs, which disproportionately affects rural areas.

However some rural counties have seen increases in employment, due to industry or growth in local economies.