Arkansas' economy during the 19th century was based on agriculture, extraction and severance. During the early decades of the 20th century, progressive governors, legislators and businessmen worked to diversify the Arkansas economy, making it less vulnerable to commodity price fluctuations and crop failures. Today's economic profile reflects progress toward that goal.
What we do: occupations, by sectors
| |
1990 |
2000 |
Total civilian labor force (thousands) |
1,126.1 |
1,238.1 |
total employed |
1,047.8 |
1,183.2 |
unemployment rate |
7% |
4.4% |
Non-farm payroll jobs, total (thousands) |
923.5 |
1,161.6 |
Mining |
4.3 |
3.4 |
construction |
37.6 |
53.5 |
Manufacturing |
232.8 |
251.4 |
Transportation & Utilities |
56.0 |
70.3 |
Trade |
205.6 |
267.0 |
Finance and Insurance |
38.3 |
46.2 |
Service sector |
189.6 |
278.6 |
Government |
159.3 |
191.3 |
1999 figures reveal average annual employment in the agricultural, forestry and fisheries sector of 16,163.
Selected 1999 average weekly wages, with national figures
provided for comparison purposes |
Industry |
Average week's wage,
Arkansas, dollars |
National |
all |
488 |
641 |
all private |
482 |
639 |
agriculture |
396 |
373 |
mining |
671 |
1,051 |
construction |
508 |
669 |
manufactures |
544 |
806 |
trade, retail |
327 |
338 |
finance |
624 |
978 |
services |
448 |
606 |
federal gov |
772 |
851 |
state gov |
560 |
667 |
Manufacturing
Number of Establishments: 3294 (1999)
| Five largest categories by numbers of establishments (1999) |
| Fabricated metal products |
497 |
| Wood Products |
404 |
| Food Manufacturing |
295 |
| Printing and related |
269 |
| Machinery manufacturing |
255 |
Number of workers 229, 628 (1999)
| Five largest categories by numbers employed (1999) |
| Food manufacturing |
51,136 |
| Fabricated metal products |
22,732 |
| Machinery manufacturing |
17,579 |
| Wood products |
15,779 |
| Elect. equip, appliances |
15,614 |
Total value, shipments $45,185,963 (1997)
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