The latest unemployment numbers from the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services and the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center show an increase in December’s unemployment rates in north central Arkansas and mixed numbers in southern Missouri counties when compared to November. December is usually a month when numbers go down with hiring for the Christmas season.
In Baxter County, the rate increased from 3.5% in November to 3.9% in December. Baxter County’s rate is tied for the 37th lowest out of Arkansas’ 75 counties. There are 662 unemployed Baxter County residents out of a work force of 17,093.
Marion County’s rate went up from 3.7% in November to 4.2% in December, ranking it as tied for the 50th lowest in the state. Marion County has 248 residents out of work from a work force of 5,867.
Fulton County’s unemployment rate increased from 3.4% in November to 3.8% in December, which means they are tied for the 33rd lowest rate in the state. Fulton County has a labor force of 4,390 and 165 are unemployed.
The unemployment rate in Izard County went up from 4.8% in November to 5.4% in December, which has them ranked as the 6th highest unemployment rate in the state. There are 268 Izard County residents unemployed out of a work force of 4,924.
In Stone County, the rate increased from 3.8% in November to 4.3% in December. That ranks Stone County tied for 53rd in the state. There are 4,532 in the labor force in Stone County with 197 unemployed.
Searcy County’s unemployment rate moved up from 3.8% to 4.4% in December, ranking them tied for 56th lowest in Arkansas. There are 118 people unemployed in Searcy County out of a work force of 2,679.
Boone County saw its rate slide up from 3.1% in November to 3.4% in December, putting them in a tie for the 13th lowest rate in the state. Boone County has a work force of 15,707 with 531 out of work.
Newton County is tied for the state’s 20th lowest unemployment rate at 3.5%, increasing from 3.1% the previous month. Newton County has a labor force of 3,133 with 110 of those unemployed.
Arkansas’ unemployment rate in December was 3.4%, up from 3.3% the previous month.
In southern Missouri, Ozark County’s rate had a big spike, jumping from 4.9% in November to 5.8% in December. Ozark County had 200 unemployed out of a workforce of 3,424.
Douglas County saw its rate ease down from 3.7% in November to 3.6% in December. Douglas County has a labor force of 5,402 with 197 unemployed.
Howell County’s rate slid down from 4.1% to 4% in December. In Howell County, there are 638 unemployed out of a workforce of 16,111.
Taney County’s rate stayed the same at 3.9% in December. Taney County’s labor force is 26,113 with 1,029 unemployed.
Missouri’s unemployment rate decreased from 3.3% in November to 3.2% in December.
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