Arkansas Lost 17,100 Jobs in March

Arkansas’s March unemployment rate rose to 6.5%, a 0.1% hike from February.

The Arkansas Workforce Services Department reports that the “Natural State” lost 17,100 jobs in March, bringing the jobless total to 88,900.

Jobs were added in six major industry sectors, such as leisure and hospitality.

But Arkansas manufacturing has lost 16,800 jobs since March 2008, and trade, transportation and utilities lost 12,000 jobs.