Unemployment in SFC increasing, rates climb over eight percent

The number of unemployed residents in St. Francis County is increasing.

Since December, the county’s jobless rate has climbed from 5.6% to over 8%.

Discover Arkansas, a website maintained by the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services, shows that unemployment in St. Francis County was 5.6% in December. In January, that number rose to 7.5%, and in February, the state reported an unemployment rate of 8.1 percent for SFC.

Labor force numbers, as well as the total numbers of employed residents, fluctuated during the first two months of the year.

St. Francis County had the eighth highest unemployment rate in February of the state’s 75 counties.

The total of employed residents in SFC in December was 7,705, which decreased to 7,315 in January. This number again decreased, in February, to 7,274, resulting in the 8.1% jobless rate.

The labor force number for St. Francis County in December 2020 was 8,159, which decreased to 7,905 in January and to 7,193 in February. The county had 590 people unemployed in January and 639 people out of work in February.

Lee County, in December, saw a 5.6% unemployment rate which was lower compared to the 6.8% reported in January 2021 and the 7% reported in February.

In December, Lee County reported 2,616 residents were working, which fell slightly to 2,600 employed residents in January 2021. This number fell again in February, to 2,567.

The civilian labor force

numbers fluctuated between December and February in Lee County with the reported number in December being 2,772. In January, the labor force in Lee County was reported at 2,791, decreasing to 2,760 in February. The number of unemployed residents saw a slight increase in numbers during this time period with 156 in December. That number increased to 191 in January, adding two more in February, making it 193.

Cross County reported an unemployment rate of 4% in December, and that number rose slightly to 5.6% in January. It rose again in February, to 6%.

In December, the total number of unemployed residents in Cross County was 299. That number climbed to 404 in January and rose again in February to 429.

The number of employed residents in Cross County was reportedly 7,096 in December, compared to 6,789 in January and 6,764 in February. The labor force in Cross County was reported at 7,395 in December, falling to 7,187 in January. This number rose slightly to 7,193 in February.

Katie West • Times-Herald From left, Meghan McClendon, Julie Brown and Robyn Blackwell, with the Junior Auxillary of St. Francis County, pick up limbs, debris and trash around the Campbell House. JASFC members were picking up trash on the block surrounding the Campbell House in celebration of National Junior Auxillary Week. On Saturday, JASFC members will be at the Campbell House serving hot dogs to local heroes, beginning at 11 a.m.