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County Employment and Wages in Arkansas — First Quarter 2025
Employment increased in all three largest counties in Arkansas from March 2024 to March 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Michael Hirniak noted that Benton County had the largest over-the-year increase in employment, with a gain of 3.2 percent. (See chart 1 and table 1.)
Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in covered employment among the largest counties in Arkansas, March 2025
County
Percent change, March 2025
Benton
3.2
Pulaski
1.2
Washington
0.6
Among the three largest counties in Arkansas, employment was highest in Pulaski (263,000) in March 2025. Together, the three largest counties accounted for 40.9 percent of total covered employment within the state. Nationwide, the 372 largest counties comprise 73.4 percent of total covered employment in the United States. (Large counties and county equivalents are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2024.)
Large county average weekly wages in the first quarter 2025
All three large Arkansas counties reported average weekly wage increases over the year. (See chart 2.) Benton had the largest increase (+14.6 percent), above the national average of 4.1 percent. Average weekly wages in the two other large counties, Pulaski and Washington, rose 2.6 percent and 2.3 percent, respectively.
Chart 2. Over-the-year percent change in covered average weekly wages among the largest counties in Arkansas, first quarter 2025
County
Percent change, first quarter 2025
Benton
14.6
Pulaski
2.6
Washington
2.3
The weekly wage in 1 of the 3 largest counties in Arkansas was above the national average of $1,589. Benton’s weekly wage of $2,296 was above the national average of $1,589. Average weekly wages were $1,289 in Pulaski and $1,136 in Washington.
Smaller county average weekly wages in the first quarter of 2025
Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 72 small counties in Arkansas, defined as having employment below 75,000 in 2024. (See table 2.) Wage levels in all 72 smaller counties were below the national average. Calhoun reported the highest average weekly wage ($1,518). Montgomery reported the lowest average weekly wage ($669) in the state.
Among all 75 Arkansas counties, 16 reported average weekly wages of $799 or lower, 26 registered wages from $800 to $899, 21 had wages from $900 to $999, and 12 had average weekly wages of $1,000 or higher. (See map 1 and table 2.)
Map 1. Average weekly wages by county in Arkansas, first quarter 2025
(U.S. average = $1,589)
Additional statistics and other information
QCEW data for states have been included in this release in table 3.
Information in this release will be made available to individuals with sensory impairments upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Telecommunications Relay Service: 7-1-1.
The County Employment and Wages release for the second quarter 2025 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, December 3, 2025.
County Changes for the 2025 County Employment and Wages News Releases
Counties with annual average employment of 75,000 or more in 2024 are included in this release and will be included in future 2025 releases. Four counties have been added to the nationwide publication tables: Pinal, AZ; Henry, GA; Wood, OH; and Comal, TX. One county has been dropped from the publication tables: Gregg, TX.
Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the three largest counties in Arkansas, first quarter 2025
(1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data. (2) Percent changes were computed from employment and pay data adjusted for noneconomic county reclassifications. (3) Ranking does not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands. (4) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
Note: Data are preliminary. Dashes indicate data not applicable or available. Covered employment and wages include workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.
Table 2. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and all counties in Arkansas, first quarter 2025
(1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data. (2) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
Note: Data are preliminary. Dashes indicate data not applicable or available. Covered employment and wages include workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.
Table 3. Covered establishments, employment, and wages by state, first quarter 2025
(1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data. (2) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands. (3) Data not included in the national ranking.
Note: Data are preliminary. Dashes indicate data not applicable or available. Covered employment and wages include workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.
United States Department of Labor
