Department of Numbers

Jonesboro, Arkansas Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Jonesboro fell 0.2 percentage points in January 2023 to 2.8%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.6 percentage points lower than the Arkansas rate. The unemployment rate in Jonesboro peaked in April 2020 at 9.1% and is now 6.3 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.5% in February 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.3 percentage points. You can also compare Jonesboro unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.4% -0.1 -0.6
Arkansas 3.4% 0.0 +0.2
Jonesboro 2.8% -0.2 +0.2
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with January 2023 data as February metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Jonesboro, Arkansas, National

Jonesboro, Arkansas monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Jonesboro, Arkansas Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Jonesboro peaked in April 2020 at 5,988. There are now 4,087 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 1,674 in February 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 227. Jonesboro employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Jonesboro, Arkansas) is also available.

Unemployed Persons January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Jonesboro 1,901 -60 +204

Number of Unemployed Persons

Jonesboro, Arkansas Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Arkansas
Unemployment Rate
Jonesboro
Unemployment Rate
Jonesboro
Unemployed
February
2023
3.6%
January
2023
3.4% 3.4% 2.8% 1,901
December
2022
3.5% 3.4% 3.0% 1,961
November
2022
3.6% 3.5% 3.1% 2,026
October
2022
3.7% 3.5% 3.1% 2,022
September
2022
3.5% 3.5% 3.1% 2,025
August
2022
3.7% 3.4% 2.9% 1,955
July
2022
3.5% 3.3% 2.9% 1,914
June
2022
3.6% 3.2% 2.8% 1,848
May
2022
3.6% 3.2% 2.7% 1,777
April
2022
3.6% 3.1% 2.6% 1,746
March
2022
3.6% 3.1% 2.5% 1,677

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.