County’s jobless rate shows May decrease

The unemployment rate in St. Francis County fell slightly from April to May.

The Arkansas Department of Workforce Services reports the county’s jobless rate in May was 6.8%, down from the 6.9% reported in April.

Labor force numbers, as well as the total numbers of employed residents, fluctuated during this period.

Of the state’s 75 counties, St. Francis County had the eighth highest unemployment rate in May.

The total of employed residents for St. Francis County in April was 7,291, which decreased to 7,276 in May, resulting in the 6.8% jobless rate.

The labor force number for St. Francis County in April was 7,828 which decreased to 7,807 in May, with a total of 531 unemployed residents within the county compared to April, which saw 537 not working.

Lee County, in April, had a 6% unemployment rate, which increased in May to 6.2%.

In April, Lee County reported 2,505 residents were working, which fell to 2,472 employed residents in May. The civilian labor force numbers rose between April and May in Lee County, with the reported number in April being 2,666 and in May being 2,635. The number of unemployed residents saw increased by only two from April to May, when 161 were jobless in April and 163 without jobs in May.

Cross County had an unemployment rate of 5% in April, which fell to 4.9% in May.

In April, the total number of unemployed residents in Cross County was 354. That number decreased to 346 in May. The number of employed residents in Cross County was reportedly 6,709 in April, compared to 6,730 in May. The labor force in Cross County was reported at 7,063 in April, but grew to 7,076 in May.