More Arkansans went to this place in July.
From the jobs front this week in Arkansas, some good news. The state's unemployment rate dipped a percentage point to 7.4 percent in July. That's now more than two points under the national rate, which seems fixed at 9.5 percent.
- Manufacturing employment rose by 1,000, with durable goods posting all the growth as multiple fabricated metal manufacturing companies reported increased employment.
- Government posted the largest decrease, down by 15,600 on seasonal fluctuations at public schools and universities.
- The largest increase occurred in educational and health services, up 1,100.
- Most growth occurred in ambulatory health care, which includes home health care, doctors' and dentists' offices, and medical laboratories.
Elsewhere around the state, ElectroCraft Arkansas announced it will add 55 new jobs at its Searcy manufacturing plant after partnering with SN Tech to produce a "green" motor.
Whirlpool's Fort Smith plant will undergo another round of layoffs, the company announced this week. Perhaps as many as 600 to 1,000 employees will be laid off in October and November, according to ArkansasBusiness.com.
And UALR economist Michael Pakko forecasted continued slow growth for the Arkansas economy, with retail sales lagging. Pakko spoke at Aug. 18's latest installment of the Economic Issues Breakfast series, centered at UALR and linked via video conference to the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, UA-Fort Smith, UA-Monticello, UA-Pine Bluff, Southern Arkansas University and Arkansas State University.
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