NW Arkansas’ Unemployment Rate Going Down--Again

I’ve been hearing lately that unemployment figures are going down in NW Arkansas and the country as a whole. Nationwide, the rate for February 2011 was 9.5%.

Northwest Arkansas has had the good fortune all along to have considerably lower unemployment rates and it’s good to know that trend is continuing. Our rate for February 2011 was 6.7%.

The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, breaks unemployment rates into 372 Metropolitan Statistical Areas. Our MSA, which includes Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, and Bentonville, is ranked #43 out of the 372 areas. This is concrete proof that the economy in NW Arkansas is far better than the majority of the country.

Companies are hiring, especially in construction/trade, transportation and utilities sectors. Service sectors, i.e., professional, business, leisure, and hospitality services, also have shrinking unemployment rates. Government services is another area showing recovery.

Rising employment is exactly what’s needed to get the housing market moving again. People will soon rediscover the many good points about living in NW Arkansas.

Perhaps you have family and friends who would appreciate knowing what’s happening here.