November 2025 | Released January 08, 2026
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United States
Employment snapshot
- The highest unemployment rate was 6.5 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.1 percent in South Dakota.
- In November, payroll jobs rose in 35 states and fell in 15. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.3 percent in Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, and Mississippi. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.4 percent in New Hampshire.
Arkansas
Employment snapshot
In November, Arkansas added 900 net payroll jobs. In the prior month, Arkansas added 2,300 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Arkansas added 17,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.5 percentage points from 3.6 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 64,000 in November. Arkansas is tied for 6th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In November, Arkansas’s private sector added 1,100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 17,900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Arkansas added 3,000 net private payroll jobs.
Arkansas
Payroll employment
- Arkansas added 900 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during November. In the prior month, Arkansas added 2,300 jobs. Arkansas nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 64,000 in November. Arkansas is tied for 6th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Arkansas added 1,100 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during November. In the prior month, Arkansas added 3,000 jobs. Arkansas private sector payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 69,000 jobs in November, or 0.1 percent. Arkansas is tied for 6th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
From October 2025 to November 2025:
- The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+900) and Construction (+400).
- The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-500) and Federal Government (-200).
From November 2024 to November 2025:
- The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+6,200) and Private Education and Health Services (+5,000).
- The worst performing sectors were Construction (-2,100) and Federal Government (-1,400).
Arkansas
Labor force
The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.
- Arkansas ranks 43rd in the nation.