How many jobs were added in Arkansas last month?
Refreshed monthly
Arkansas gained 5,200 jobs in August 2026, ranking it 14th among states in job growth. Those figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' state employment report, which tracks monthly job changes. Job numbers can swing month to month as local economies expand or contract, but over the past five years the state has averaged about 1,800 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
+5.2K
month to month change in number of jobs (August 2026)
14th
rank among states in monthly job growth (August 2026)
August 2026's gain of 5,200 jobs was the second consecutive month of positive job growth in Arkansas. Monthly job growth was up from the 100 new jobs in July 2026.
During the latest five year period (September 2021 to August 2026), Arkansas gained jobs in 44 out of 60 months. August 2026 had the seventh-highest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in October 2021 (12,600) while job growth was weakest in July 2023 (-3,300).
There were 5,200 more jobs in August 2026 in Arkansas than the previous month.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment, September 2021–August 2026, seasonally adjusted
Which Arkansas sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in August 2026?
The three supersectors with the highest job growth in August 2026 were accommodation and food services, private educational services, and retail trade. Accommodation and food services added 2,100 jobs, while private educational services gained 1,700 jobs, and retail trade added 600. The remaining supersectors either posted smaller gains or lost jobs during the month.
The three lowest-performing supersectors were non-durable goods, administrative and support and waste management and remediation services, and other services. Non-durable goods lost 400 jobs in August 2026, while administrative and support and waste management and remediation services lost 200 jobs and other services lost 100 jobs.
Get weekly insights
Subscribe for data-driven insights. No spin, just the facts.
The health care and social assistance sector gained zero jobs during August 2026.
Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in Arkansas (August 2026)
How has Arkansas's job growth changed over time?
In 2025, Arkansas gained an average of 725 jobs every month. That's lower than the 2024 average monthly increase of 1,367, and the lowest since 2020. The 2025 average ranks as 13th-highest in job growth since 2007.
When excluding the two pandemic-affected years of 2020 and 2021, job growth ranged from a loss of 2,900 on average every month in 2009 to a gain of 3,500 on average every month in 2022.
In 2025, Arkansas gained an average of 725 jobs every month.
Average monthly change in the number of jobs, seasonally adjusted
Job growth among five metro areas primarily in Arkansas during August 2026 ranged from a gain of 0 jobs in the Hot Springs, AR area to a gain of 3,700 jobs in the Fayetteville, AR area.
Monthly job growth, by metro area
Metro areas where at least one of its primary counties are within Arkansas
| Metro area | Change in jobs | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | +3,700 | |
| 2. | +1,100 | |
| 3. | +900 | |
| 4. | +400 | |
| 5. | +400 | |
| 6. | +200 | |
| 7. | +0 |
Keep exploring
Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
