January 2026 | Released April 08, 2026
Download the full PDF for Arkansas
Download the summary PDF for Arkansas
United States
Employment snapshot
In January, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 9, rose in 22, and remained unchanged in 20.
The highest unemployment rate was 6.7 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.2 percent in Hawaii and South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.3 percent.
In January, payroll jobs rose in 45 states and fell in 6. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in California and North Dakota. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.7 percent in District of Columbia.
Arkansas
Employment snapshot
In January, Arkansas added 1,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.4 percent. In the prior month, Arkansas added 2,500 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Arkansas added 11,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.6 percentage points from 3.8 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Arkansas is tied for 3rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In January, Arkansas’s private sector added 1,700 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 13,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Arkansas added 2,700 net private payroll jobs.
In January, employment in Arkansas rose by 1,205, and over the past 12 months it rose by 17,185.
Arkansas’s labor force participation rate rose to 59.1 percent in January from 59 percent and ranks 43rd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.7 percentage points.
Arkansas
Payroll employment
Arkansas added 1,800 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Arkansas added 2,500 jobs. Arkansas nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Arkansas is tied for 3rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Arkansas added 1,700 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Arkansas added 2,700 jobs. Arkansas private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 186,000 jobs in March, or 0.1 percent. Arkansas is tied for 4th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
From December 2025 to January 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (+500) and Manufacturing (+400).
- The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-400) and Construction (-400).
From January 2025 to January 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+5,800) and Private Education and Health Services (+4,100).
- The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-1,900) and Federal Government (-1,500).
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.
The labor force participation rate in Arkansas rose to 59.1 percent in January from 59 percent in the prior month.
Arkansas ranks 43rd in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Arkansas was 59.1 percent in January 2026, and the 10-year low was 56.4 percent occurring in July 2021.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.9 percent in March.