Department of Labor Logo United States Department of Labor
Dot gov

The .gov means it's official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

News Release Information

20-124-DAL
Wednesday, February 05, 2020

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:
  • (972) 850-4800

Business Employment Dynamics in Arkansas – Second Quarter 2019

From March 2019 to June 2019, gross job gains from opening and expanding private-sector establishments in Arkansas totaled 50,642, while gross job losses from closing and contracting private-sector establishments numbered 58,009, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Stanley W. Suchman noted that the difference between the number of gross job gains and the number of gross job losses yielded a net employment loss of 7,367. During the previous quarter, gross job gains exceeded gross job losses by 1,712. (See chart 1.)

The change in the number of jobs over time is the net result of increases and decreases in employment that occur at all businesses in the economy. Business Employment Dynamics (BED) statistics track these changes in employment at private business establishments from the third month of one quarter to the third month of the next. The difference between the number of gross job gains and the number of gross job losses is the net change in employment. (See the Technical Note for more information.)

Gross job losses in Arkansas increased by more than 6,116 in the latest quarter, to the highest level since the third quarter of 2009. (See chart 1.) Gross job gains fell for the third consecutive quarter, down by 2,963 to 50,642 in the second quarter of 2019. This was the lowest quarterly level for gross job gains since the series inception in September 1992.

Gross job losses represented 5.7 percent of private-sector employment in Arkansas in the second quarter of 2019, while nationally gross job losses accounted for 5.9 percent of private-sector employment. (See chart 2.) With few exceptions, Arkansas’s rate of gross job losses has been below the national rate since the series began in September 1992. The state’s rate of gross job gains was 5.0 percent in the second quarter of 2019, matching the second quarter of 2018 for the lowest rate of gross job gains since the series began in 1992. Nationally, gross job gains accounted for 6.0 percent of private-sector employment.

During the second quarter of 2019, gross job losses exceeded gross job gains in 8 of the 10 industry sectors in Arkansas. The professional and business services sector had the largest net job loss during the quarter. This sector created 8,558 jobs at opening and expanding establishments, but lost 11,441 jobs at closing and contracting establishments, for a net loss of 2,883 jobs. In leisure and hospitality, opening and expanding establishments created 8,479 jobs, while closing and contracting establishments lost 10,902 jobs, resulting in a net loss of 2,423 jobs. Net job losses in each of the other job-losing sectors were less than 1,000. (See table 1.)

Gross job gains exceeded gross job losses in two industry sectors in Arkansas. Net employment gains in financial activities and construction were each less than 315.

Additional statistics and other information

BED data for the states have been included in table 2 of this release. For more information on the Business Employment Dynamics data, visit the BED web site at www.bls.gov/bdm/.

The Business Employment Dynamics release for Third Quarter 2019 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, April 29, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).


Technical Note

The Business Employment Dynamics (BED) data are a product of a federal-state cooperative program known as Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). The BED data are compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) from existing QCEW records. Most employers in the U.S. are required to file quarterly reports on the employment and wages of workers covered by unemployment insurance (UI) laws, and to pay quarterly UI taxes. The QCEW is based largely on quarterly UI reports which are sent by businesses to the State Workforce Agencies (SWAs). These UI reports are supplemented by two additional BLS data collections to render administrative data into economic statistics. Together these data comprise the QCEW and form the basis of the Bureau’s establishment universe sampling frame.

In the BED program, the quarterly QCEW records are linked across quarters to provide a longitudinal history for each establishment. The linkage process allows the tracking of net employment changes at the establishment level, which in turn allows the estimation of jobs gained at opening and expanding establishments and jobs lost at closing and contracting units.

The change in the number of jobs over time is the net result of increases and decreases in employment that occur at all businesses in the economy. BED statistics track these changes in employment at private business establishments from the third month of one quarter to the third month of the next. Gross job gains are the sum of increases in employment from expansions at existing establishments and the addition of new jobs at opening establishments. Gross job losses are the result of contractions in employment at existing establishments and the loss of jobs at closing establishments. The difference between the number of gross jobs gained and the number of gross jobs lost is the net change in employment.

Gross job gains and gross job losses are expressed as rates by dividing their levels by the average of employment in the current and previous quarters. The rates are calculated for the components of gross job gains and gross job losses and then summed to form their respective totals. These rates can be added and subtracted just as their levels can. For instance, the difference between the gross job gains rate and the gross job losses rate is the net growth rate.

The formal definitions of employment changes are as follows:

Openings. These are either units with positive third month employment for the first time in the current quarter, with no links to the prior quarter, or with positive third month employment in the current quarter following zero employment in the previous quarter.

Expansions. These are units with positive employment in the third month in both the previous and current quarters, with a net increase in employment over this period.

Closings. These are either units with positive third month employment in the previous quarter, with no employment or zero employment reported in the current quarter.

Contractions. These are units with positive employment in the third month in both the previous and current quarters, with a net decrease in employment over this period.

Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request: voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339.

Table 1. Private sector gross job gains and losses by industry, Arkansas, seasonally adjusted
CategoryGross job gains and job losses
(3 months ended)
Gross job gains and job losses
as a percent of employment
(3 months ended)
June
2018
Sept.
2018
Dec.
2018
Mar.
2019
June
2019
June
2018
Sept.
2018
Dec.
2018
Mar.
2019
June
2019

Total private (1)

Gross job gains

51,19161,29459,91553,60550,6425.06.15.95.25.0

At expanding establishments

41,98049,33449,15643,26041,5504.14.94.84.24.1

At opening establishments

9,21111,96010,75910,3459,0920.91.21.11.00.9

Gross job losses

57,71956,72350,42151,89358,0095.75.65.05.15.7

At contracting establishments

48,72745,71340,46543,91148,8994.84.54.04.34.8

At closing establishments

8,99211,0109,9567,9829,1100.91.11.00.80.9

Net employment change (2)

-6,5284,5719,4941,712-7,367-0.70.50.90.1-0.7

Construction

Gross job gains

4,2354,6264,8154,6874,3168.49.19.48.98.2

At expanding establishments

3,4403,5613,7823,7293,5116.87.07.47.16.7

At opening establishments

7951,0651,0339588051.62.12.01.81.5

Gross job losses

4,1254,4013,8764,3094,1978.18.77.58.28.0

At contracting establishments

3,4203,3803,1943,5683,3276.76.76.26.86.3

At closing establishments

7051,0216827418701.42.01.31.41.7

Net employment change (2)

1102259393781190.30.41.90.70.2

Manufacturing

Gross job gains

4,0804,6135,2583,5884,0062.52.93.22.12.5

At expanding establishments

3,9224,2544,9173,3453,8332.42.73.02.02.4

At opening establishments

1583593412431730.10.20.20.10.1

Gross job losses

4,4693,9013,1983,8954,5192.82.42.02.42.7

At contracting establishments

4,2043,5422,7603,6414,2842.62.21.72.22.6

At closing establishments

2653594382542350.20.20.30.20.1

Net employment change (2)

-3897122060-307-513-0.30.51.2-0.3-0.2

Wholesale trade

Gross job gains

2,0692,8382,7092,4852,2374.46.05.75.24.7

At expanding establishments

1,6492,3042,1932,0141,8353.54.94.64.23.9

At opening establishments

4205345164714020.91.11.11.00.8

Gross job losses

2,5542,3572,1212,3602,3935.55.04.55.05.0

At contracting establishments

2,0521,8951,6111,8971,8654.44.03.44.03.9

At closing establishments

5024625104635281.11.01.11.01.1

Net employment change (2)

-485481588125-156-1.11.01.20.2-0.3

Retail trade

Gross job gains

6,6537,6646,9207,0556,8254.85.55.05.24.9

At expanding establishments

5,4176,3465,9865,8595,9603.94.64.34.34.3

At opening establishments

1,2361,3189341,1968650.90.90.70.90.6

Gross job losses

8,1927,7507,4517,6257,8145.95.55.45.55.7

At contracting establishments

7,1996,7266,5126,7556,6295.24.84.74.94.8

At closing establishments

9931,0249398701,1850.70.70.70.60.9

Net employment change (2)

-1,539-86-531-570-989-1.10.0-0.4-0.3-0.8

Transportation and warehousing

Gross job gains

2,4582,7073,6833,1142,2474.55.06.75.53.9

At expanding establishments

2,1192,2583,2472,7781,8343.94.25.94.93.2

At opening establishments

3394494363364130.60.80.80.60.7

Gross job losses

2,4962,1482,0542,4992,6274.63.93.74.44.6

At contracting establishments

2,0271,7571,5922,2092,3533.73.22.93.94.1

At closing establishments

4693914622902740.90.70.80.50.5

Net employment change (2)

-385591629615-380-0.11.13.01.1-0.7

Financial activities

Gross job gains

2,6892,9572,7562,5132,6765.45.85.44.95.2

At expanding establishments

1,9472,3301,9281,7621,9723.94.63.83.43.8

At opening establishments

7426278287517041.51.21.61.51.4

Gross job losses

2,3812,5342,6182,0972,3624.85.05.14.14.6

At contracting establishments

1,7901,6201,8031,5391,7533.63.23.53.03.4

At closing establishments

5919148155586091.21.81.61.11.2

Net employment change (2)

3084231384163140.60.80.30.80.6

Professional and business services

Gross job gains

9,06411,19410,6708,9968,5586.27.77.36.15.9

At expanding establishments

7,3458,9258,5047,2766,8175.06.15.84.94.7

At opening establishments

1,7192,2692,1661,7201,7411.21.61.51.21.2

Gross job losses

11,84410,1889,9209,36311,4418.17.06.76.47.9

At contracting establishments

10,2078,4937,3527,7879,6917.05.85.05.36.7

At closing establishments

1,6371,6952,5681,5761,7501.11.21.71.11.2

Net employment change (2)

-2,7801,006750-367-2,883-1.90.70.6-0.3-2.0

Education and health services

Gross job gains

7,5678,2548,4727,2827,4074.14.44.63.93.9

At expanding establishments

6,4456,9426,6735,6306,0913.53.73.63.03.2

At opening establishments

1,1221,3121,7991,6521,3160.60.71.00.90.7

Gross job losses

6,7828,5566,8757,1597,6803.64.63.73.84.1

At contracting establishments

5,3916,4325,5985,8996,3362.93.53.03.13.4

At closing establishments

1,3912,1241,2771,2601,3440.71.10.70.70.7

Net employment change (2)

785-3021,597123-2730.5-0.20.90.1-0.2

Leisure and hospitality

Gross job gains

8,47311,9359,6069,5078,4797.210.28.07.87.1

At expanding establishments

6,5629,0028,0307,4066,6745.67.76.76.15.6

At opening establishments

1,9112,9331,5762,1011,8051.62.51.31.71.5

Gross job losses

10,50910,1938,2968,41310,9029.08.76.97.09.2

At contracting establishments

9,0328,3996,9437,2639,3827.77.25.86.07.9

At closing establishments

1,4771,7941,3531,1501,5201.31.51.11.01.3

Net employment change (2)

-2,0361,7421,3101,094-2,423-1.81.51.10.8-2.1

Other services (3)

Gross job gains

1,8882,4081,9501,9381,7327.910.08.08.07.1

At expanding establishments

1,4341,8211,4881,4821,3366.07.66.16.15.5

At opening establishments

4545874624563961.92.41.91.91.6

Gross job losses

1,8721,8241,8781,7921,9207.97.67.77.37.9

At contracting establishments

1,4511,2911,3721,3671,5176.15.45.65.66.2

At closing establishments

4215335064254031.82.22.11.71.7

Net employment change (2)

1658472146-1880.02.40.30.7-0.8

(1) Includes unclassified sector not shown separately.
(2) The net employment change is the difference between total gross job gains and total gross job losses. See the Technical Note for further information.
(3) Except public administration.

 

Table 2. Private sector gross job gains and losses as a percent of total employment by state, seasonally adjusted
StateGross job gains as a percent of employment
(3 months ended)
Gross job losses as a percent of employment
(3 months ended)
June
2018
Sept.
2018
Dec.
2018
Mar.
2019
June
2019
June
2018
Sept.
2018
Dec.
2018
Mar.
2019
June
2019

United States(1)

6.16.06.35.96.05.86.05.65.55.9

Alabama

5.86.06.36.05.85.75.95.35.56.0

Alaska

10.98.911.010.010.810.710.79.89.010.2

Arizona

6.06.66.25.65.75.95.15.15.55.7

Arkansas

5.06.15.95.25.05.75.65.05.15.7

California

6.76.56.96.36.66.46.25.96.26.4

Colorado

6.86.66.86.67.06.16.86.06.36.2

Connecticut

5.85.35.35.25.85.15.74.95.75.9

Delaware

6.45.76.66.46.06.06.55.65.56.3

District of Columbia

5.65.35.65.45.45.65.55.14.95.5

Florida

6.46.86.46.16.56.15.86.15.66.3

Georgia

6.36.76.36.86.26.46.15.85.76.4

Hawaii

5.35.15.85.44.75.45.45.15.96.1

Idaho

7.36.87.47.57.16.86.96.36.16.7

Illinois

5.65.55.55.25.65.65.85.65.15.3

Indiana

5.55.25.65.95.25.55.45.04.85.8

Iowa

5.75.35.85.15.85.45.75.35.45.6

Kansas

5.75.96.15.45.75.65.75.45.75.7

Kentucky

5.95.86.15.85.85.76.05.45.55.9

Louisiana

6.26.36.25.96.06.56.35.85.96.5

Maine

8.06.17.37.27.57.17.56.76.47.5

Maryland

6.16.36.86.46.35.86.66.45.76.4

Massachusetts

6.15.65.85.76.05.56.15.35.25.7

Michigan

5.55.05.65.15.55.26.25.24.65.8

Minnesota

5.85.55.75.25.85.25.75.45.15.5

Mississippi

5.75.96.55.75.86.05.95.36.26.0

Missouri

5.75.95.85.45.65.76.05.45.35.8

Montana

8.07.28.97.68.07.87.97.28.07.7

Nebraska

5.85.95.95.75.75.85.95.75.65.7

Nevada

6.16.76.66.05.95.85.75.55.46.0

New Hampshire

6.75.76.66.36.46.26.85.75.76.3

New Jersey

6.56.06.45.76.25.86.45.75.65.8

New Mexico

6.76.46.86.46.36.26.46.15.86.3

New York

6.36.16.36.06.05.86.45.75.35.9

North Carolina

6.15.76.76.36.15.76.45.35.15.7

North Dakota

6.76.66.87.16.76.26.66.26.46.7

Ohio

5.65.45.65.55.65.45.85.35.15.7

Oklahoma

6.46.76.55.85.96.36.16.15.86.2

Oregon

6.26.26.76.36.36.36.36.05.86.1

Pennsylvania

5.35.45.35.15.25.15.24.84.85.3

Rhode Island

6.36.26.45.86.46.16.45.75.66.7

South Carolina

7.55.87.46.46.36.76.55.46.06.2

South Dakota

6.16.06.35.76.26.15.75.86.46.0

Tennessee

5.55.85.85.45.55.35.34.94.85.0

Texas

5.96.06.25.55.75.35.45.25.25.3

Utah

6.97.36.97.36.96.46.46.26.26.5

Vermont

7.26.97.46.76.97.17.66.86.37.1

Virginia

6.25.76.36.46.15.86.35.65.55.9

Washington

7.36.26.46.26.66.56.55.65.65.7

West Virginia

6.87.06.36.06.26.46.46.56.66.5

Wisconsin

5.55.15.45.15.55.55.95.04.85.3

Wyoming

8.48.310.08.68.58.48.47.87.89.6

Puerto Rico

7.97.26.07.16.46.25.86.85.15.8

Virgin Islands

13.212.87.911.98.87.05.97.17.46.1

(1) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.

 

Last Modified Date: Wednesday, February 05, 2020