Arkansas added jobs and new workers to its labor force in May, and the state's unemployment rate fell a tenth of a percentage point to 3.8 percent, according to U.S. Department of Labor data released Friday.
The May rate sets a new monthly low for Arkansas since at least 1957, which is as far back as employment records go.
The monthly report, released by the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services, said the state's net increase in the number of employed people was 1,073. The number of unemployed people decreased by a smaller amount — 1,027 — indicating that 46 people entered the labor force.
The rise in employment in Arkansas was spurred by hiring in the health care and manufacturing industries, the report said, while professional and business services shed jobs, along with government.
Arkansas' unemployment remained below the national rate, which was charted at 4.7 percent in May, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nationwide, unemployment fell three tenths of a percentage point in May.
News reports Friday indicated that several other states saw increases in unemployment in May. The 38,000 jobs added nationwide in May was the lowest monthly number in five years, according to The Associated Press.
Read Saturday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.