Clark County posts lowest unemployment rate of neighboring counties

Clark County’s unemployment rate for March 2026, not seasonally adjusted, was at 4.2%, 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 9,964 persons with 9,547 employed and 417 unemployed. The unemployment rate fell seven-tenths of a percentage point from the February report of 4.9%. Since the last report, the labor force decreased by 108 persons from 10,072. Clark County held the lowest unemployment rate of its neighboring counties.

For the same period in 2025, Clark County reported 4.2% of its 9,508-person labor force were without jobs.

The Arkansas counties with the lowest unemployment rate are Benton (Springdale) and Washington (Fayetteville), at 3.3%, in the northwestern corner of the state. Counties reporting similarly low jobless rates are Sevier County (De Queen), at 3.4%, Saline (Benton) and Grant (Sheridan) in Central Arkansas, at 3.5% and 3.6%, respectively.

On the highest end of the spectrum, the Delta counties of Desha (Arkansas City), Phillips (Helena-West Helena) and Chicot (Lake Village) report unemployment rates of 7.4%, 7.3% and 7.1%, respectively.

Statewide, Arkansas’ seasonally adjusted jobless rate was at 4.3% in March, down from 4.4% the previous month. Of the 1.45 million available workers there were 63,045 without jobs. Nationwide, 4.3% of the 169 million available workforce were without jobs.

The unemployment rate for these South Arkansas counties surveyed from February to March are listed with their county seat in parentheses: i.e., Clark County (Arkadelphia):

Dallas County (Fordyce) reported 4.6% of its 2,828 available workers were without jobs, compared to 4.7% in February.

Hot Spring County (Malvern) reported 4.6% of its 13,376 available workers were without jobs, compared to 4.9% in February.

Montgomery County (Mt. Ida) reported 5.4% of its 3,140 available workers were without jobs, compared to 5.7% in February.

Pike County (Murfreesboro) reported 4.4% of its 4,219 available workers were without jobs, compared to 4.9% in February.

Nevada County (Prescott) reported 6% of its 2,677 available workers were without jobs, compared to 6.3% in February.

Ouachita County (Camden) reported 4.9% of its 9,211 available workers were without jobs, compared to 5% in February.