Clark County’s unemployment rate for January 2026, not seasonally adjusted, was at 5.4%, according to a preliminary county-by-county report released this week by the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services.
According to the report, Clark County had a labor force of 9,744 persons with 9,221 employed and 523 unemployed. The unemployment rate rose by nine-tenths of a percentage point from the December report of 4.5%.
Since the last report, the labor force fell by 256 from an even 10,000 persons. The latest statistics are on par for the same period in 2025, when Clark County reported an unemployment rate of 4.5% with a labor force of 9,214 persons.
For this recent period, Clark County held the second-largest labor force and the second-lowest jobless rate of the seven-county area surveyed, which includes each neighboring county.
Statewide, Arkansas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was at 4.4% in January, an increase of two-tenths of a percentage point since December. Of the 1.45 million available workers there were 63,636 without jobs. The U.S. jobless rate was at 4.3% in March, with 162.8 million employed and 7.23 million unemployed.
The unemployment rate for these Southwest Arkansas counties surveyed from December to January are listed with their county seat in parentheses: i.e., Clark County (Arkadelphia):
Dallas County (Fordyce) reported a 5% unemployment rate and a labor force of 2,783 persons. The jobless rate rose seven-tenths of a percentage point since December.
Hot Spring County (Malvern) reported a 5.5% unemployment rate and a labor force of 13,192 persons. The jobless rate rose one percentage point since December.
Montgomery County (Mt. Ida) reported a 6.6% unemployment rate and a labor force of 3,024 persons. The jobless rate rose three-tenths of a percentage point since December.
Pike County (Murfreesboro) reported a 5.7% unemployment rate and a labor force of 4,121 persons. The jobless rate rose eight-tenths of a percentage point since December.
Nevada County (Prescott) reported a 7% unemployment rate and a labor force of 2,642 persons. The jobless rate rose nine-tenths of a percentage point since December.
Ouachita County (Camden) reported a 5.8% unemployment rate and a labor force of 9,036 persons. The jobless rate rose six-tenths of a percentage point since December.