Unemployment numbers improve in northern Arkansas, mixed numbers in southern Missouri in March

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The latest unemployment numbers from the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services and the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center show a decrease in March’s unemployment rates in north central Arkansas while southern Missouri counties had mixed numbers when compared to February.

In Baxter County, the rate decreased from 4.6% in February to 3.9% in March. Baxter County’s rate is tied for the 31st lowest out of Arkansas’ 75 counties. There are 661 unemployed Baxter County residents out of a work force of 16,825.

Marion County’s rate went down from 6.7% in February to 5.6% in March, but that is still tied for the 7th highest rate in the state. Marion County has 296 residents out of work from a work force of 5,328.

Fulton County’s unemployment rate decreased from 5.2% in February to 4.5% in March, which means they are tied for the 53rd lowest rate in the state. Fulton County has a labor force of 4,005 and 181 are unemployed.

The unemployment rate in Izard County went down from 6.3% in February to 5.4% in March, which has them ranked as the 8th highest unemployment rate in the state. There are 224 Izard County residents unemployed out of a work force of 4,175.

In Stone County, the rate decreased from 6% in February to 5% in March. That ranks Stone County tied for 60th in the state. There are 4,044 in the labor force in Stone County with 201 unemployed.

Searcy County’s unemployment rate moved down from 5.1% to 4.1% in March, ranking them tied for 42nd lowest in Arkansas. There are 126 people unemployed in Searcy County out of a work force of 3,037.

Boone County saw its rate slide down from 4.1% in February to 3.6% in March, putting them in a tie for the 14th lowest rate in the state. Boone County has a work force of 16,560 with 593 out of work.

Newton County is tied for the state’s 53rd lowest unemployment rate at 4.5%, decreasing from 6% the previous month. Newton County has a labor force of 2,657 with 120 of those unemployed.

Arkansas’ unemployment rate in March was 3.7%, up from 3.6% the previous month.

In southern Missouri, Ozark County’s rate dropped from 7.9% in February to 6.9% in March. Ozark County had 216 unemployed out of a workforce of 3,337.

Douglas County saw its rate creep up from 4.3% in February to 4.4% in March. Douglas County has a labor force of 5,237 with 229 unemployed.

Howell County’s rate went up from 4.8% to 5.2% in March. In Howell County, there are 857 unemployed out of a workforce of 16,635.

Taney County’s rate had a huge decline from 13.9% in February to 6.9% in March. Taney County’s labor force is 26,450 with 1,813 unemployed.

Missouri’s unemployment rate stayed the same at 4.4% in March.

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