States · Arkansas
Arkansas Economy — Live Data
Tracking the Arkansas economy: unemployment at 4.2% (matching the national rate), plus job growth, home prices, and income — all sourced from the Federal Reserve and Bureau of Labor Statistics, in plain English.
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
→ Matches US average
Nonfarm Jobs
1.35M
→ +0.4% jobs YoY
House Prices (YoY)
+3.8%
▲ Rising
Per-Capita Income
$62K
▲ +4.4% vs prior year
Arkansas vs. United States — Unemployment
Arkansas
4.2%
United States
4.2%
Arkansas matches the national unemployment rate at 4.2%.
Jobs & Output
Nonfarm payrolls
1.35M
Job growth (YoY)
+0.4%
Real GDP (2025)
$151B
GDP growth (YoY)
+2.2%
Payrolls are monthly (BLS); GDP and income are annual (BEA). Key sectors in Arkansas: retail (Walmart HQ), food processing, and agriculture.
What this means if you live or work in Arkansas
Job market
With unemployment at or above the national average, hiring in Arkansas is more employer-friendly — job seekers should expect more competition per opening.
Housing
House prices are rising moderately (+3.8% YoY) — a balanced market by recent standards.
Income
Per-capita personal income in Arkansas is $61,752, up 4.4% from the prior year. Compare against national inflation to gauge real purchasing power.
Key industries
Arkansas's economy leans on retail (Walmart HQ), food processing, and agriculture — sector-specific national trends (energy prices, rates, consumer spending) hit this state through those channels first.
Data: FRED (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis) — series ARUR, ARNA, ARSTHPI, ARPCPI, ARRGSP — plus BLS and BEA. Live values load on page open; figures shown are the most recent official releases. Not financial advice.