Arkansas’ Jobless Rate Increases to 7.5%

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Arkansas’ unemployment rate rose by one-tenth of a percentage point last month to 7.5 percent, the first increase since March.

The state Department of Workforce Services says the state’s nonfarm payroll jobs decreased by 3,400 in August. The biggest drop came in educational and health services, which lost 2,300 jobs. Manufacturing also lost 1,000 jobs.

Leisure and hospitality lost 1,100 jobs, and the state attributed that to both the economy and the end of the summer travel season. Professional and business services posted a gain of 1,500 jobs.

Arkansas’ 7.5 percent rate is still slightly lower than it was a year ago, and remains below the national rate of 9.6 percent.