Employment declined in 2 of the 3 largest counties in Arkansas from March 2025 to March 2026, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Arkansas employment decreased 0.1 percent over the year to 1,305,200 in March 2026, as measured by the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program. (See table 1.) Regional Commissioner James B. Howard, Jr., noted that employment decreased in Pulaski County (-1.1 percent) and Washington County (-0.5 percent). (See chart 1.)

  

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Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in covered employment among the largest counties in Arkansas, March 2026

County	Percent change, March 2026
Pulaski	-1.1
Washington	-0.5
Benton	1.2

Pulaski (261,100) had the highest employment level in Arkansas in March 2026. Together, the three largest counties accounted for 40.9 percent of total covered employment within the state. Nationwide, the 376 largest counties comprise 73.5 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 2025.)

Average weekly wage gains in 2 of the 3 large counties in Arkansas were above the national average of 3.9 percent. (See chart 2.) Benton had the largest gain (+8.8 percent). Wages also increased for Pulaski (+5.1 percent) and Washington (+3.2 percent).

  

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Chart 2. Over-the-year percent change in covered average weekly wages among the largest counties in Arkansas, first quarter 2026

County	Percent change, first quarter 2026
Benton	8.8
Pulaski	5.1
Washington	3.2

Benton ($2,489) had a weekly wage above the national average of $1,654. Average weekly wages among the other two large counties were $1,348 in Pulaski and $1,162 in Washington.

Statewide, average weekly wages increased 4.6 percent over the year to $1,291. Arkansas ranked 39th in average weekly wages among the 50 states and the District of Columbia and 8th in wage growth.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 72 smaller counties in Arkansas, defined as having employment below 75,000 in 2025. (See table 2.)  Wage levels in all of the smaller counties were below the national average. Calhoun reported the highest average weekly wage ($1,636) among small counties. Montgomery reported the lowest average weekly wage ($677) in the state.

Among all 75 Arkansas counties, 10 reported average weekly wages of $799 and lower, 19 had wages from $800 to $874, 20 had wages from $875 to $949, 11 had wages from $950 to $1,024, and 15 had average weekly wages of $1,025 and higher. (See map 1 and table 2.)