(September 2024) Arkansas’ job creation rate is greater than the U.S. average since policymakers launched a new fiscal policy to reduce tax rates, reversing a trend that saw the state trail the nation in two earlier 21st century expansions, Bureau of Labor Statistics data show.
Arkansas (5.2% growth rate) trailed the U.S. (5.5%) in the expansion that occurred between November 2001 and December 2007. Arkansas (3.6%) also trailed the U.S. (7.3%) between June 2009, the start of the subsequent expansion, and January 2015, the month policymakers started cutting rates.
Arkansas (14%) is one of 17 states with a job creation rate greater than the U.S. (12.9%) since policymakers launched the new fiscal policy in January 2015.
Idaho 31.48%
Utah 29.58%
Nevada 27.51%
Arizona 25.13%
Florida 25.069%
South Carolina 20.5%
Texas 19.96%
North Carolina 19.38%
Colorado 18.93%
Georgia 18.37%
Washington 18.21%
Montana 16.8%
Tennessee 16.27%
California 14.35%
Arkansas 14.02%
Alabama 13.26%
Oregon 12.968%
United States 12.859%
Three other states grew at double-digit rates less than the U.S. in the same period: Virginia (11.39%); Delaware (10.4%); and New Jersey (10.13%).
Twenty-five (25) states grew at single-digit rates in the same period: Missouri (9.82%); South Dakota (9.78%); New Hampshire (9.14%); Indiana (8.88%); Kentucky (8.7%); Massachusetts (7.995%); Maine (7.91%); New Mexico (7.5%); New York (7.28%); Nebraska (7.23%); Pennsylvania (6.529%); Minnesota (6.34%); Michigan (6.33%); Oklahoma (6.215%); Mississippi (5.9%); Wisconsin (5.59%); Ohio (5.23%); Kansas (4.62%); Maryland (4.61%); Rhode Island (4.41%); Illinois (3.98%); Iowa (3.31%); Connecticut (1.71%);
Vermont (1.15%); and Hawaii (0.74%).
Five states lost jobs in the period: Alaska (-0.55%); West Virginia (-1.18%); Louisiana (-2.2%); Wyoming (-2.3%); and North Dakota (-5.0%). Several are commodity-based and effected by unique business cycles in those industries.
— Greg Kaza
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Nonfarm Payroll Employment (November 2001, December 2007)
Arkansas 1,146,800, 1,206,700; United States 131,141,000, 138,396,000.
Nonfarm Payroll Employment (June 2009, January 2015)
Arkansas 1,161,000, 1,202,400; United States 131,003,000, 140,562,000.
Nonfarm Payroll Employment (January 2015, July 2024)
Alabama (January 2015) 1,958,700 (July 2024) 2,218,600; Alaska 340,600, 338,700; Arizona 2,606,300, 3,261,500; Arkansas 1,202,400, 1,371,000; California 15,814,500, 18,084,200; Colorado 2,514,000, 2,990,000; Connecticut 1,683,900, 1,712,800; Delaware 443,700, 489,900; Florida 7,978,700, 9,978,900; Georgia 4,206,800, 4,979,700; Hawaii 634,000, 638,700; Idaho 662,600, 871,200; Illinois 5,917,800 , 6,153,900; Indiana 3,014,000, 3,281,700; Iowa 1,558,400, 1,610,000; Kansas 1,396,600, 1,461,200; Kentucky 1,876,900, 2,040,400; Louisiana 2,004,500, 1,960,400; Maine 608,100, 656,200; Maryland 2,642,500, 2,764,500; Massachusetts 3,470,900, 3,748,400; Michigan 4,222,300, 4,489,700; Minnesota 2,833,700, 3,013,400; Mississippi 1,125,300, 1,192,000; Missouri 2,785,200, 3,058,900; Montana 458,900, 536,000; Nebraska 999,300, 1,071,600; Nevada 1,241,900, 1,583,600; New Hampshire 648,700, 708,000; New Jersey 3,971,400, 4,373,800; New Mexico 824,800, 886,700; New York 9,214,200, 9,885,600; North Carolina 4,205,400, 5,020,500; North Dakota 467,100, 443,600; Ohio 5,386,400, 5,668,400; Oklahoma 1,674,800, 1,778,900; Oregon 1,759,600, 1,987,800; Pennsylvania 5,812,500, 6,192,000; Rhode Island 487,000, 508,500; South Carolina 1,980,300, 2,387,100; South Dakota 426,100, 467,800; Tennessee 2,867,700, 3,334,500; Texas 11,804,900, 14,161,200; Utah 1,355,600, 1,756,700; Vermont 312,400, 316,000; Virginia 3,812,500, 4,246,900; Washington 3,104,000, 3,669,200; West Virginia 725,600, 717,000; Wisconsin 2,874,900, 3,035,700; Wyoming 300,300, 293,300; United States 140,562,000, 158,637,000.
