 |
The Northwest Arkansas Workforce Investment Area includes the counties of Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Madison, Marion, Newton, Searcy, and Washington. |
|
Long-Term Employment Projections
|
Projected Industry Growth
2006-2016
Industry |
Estimated Employment
|
Projected Employment
|
Numeric Change
|
Percent Change
|
| Total Employment, All Jobs |
275,859 |
372,267 |
96,408 |
34.95 |
| Natural Resources and Mining |
1,668 |
1,040 |
-628 |
-37.65 |
| Construction |
13,035 |
18,389 |
5,354 |
41.07 |
| Manufacturing |
40,714 |
45,282 |
4,568 |
11.22 |
| Trade, Transportation, and Utilities |
54,488 |
75,131 |
20,643 |
37.89 |
| Information |
3,368 |
4,009 |
641 |
19.03 |
| Financial Activities |
9,706 |
13,646 |
3,940 |
40.59 |
| Professional and Business Services |
32,858 |
52,489 |
19,631 |
59.74 |
| Education and Health Services |
45,861 |
61,491 |
15,630 |
34.08 |
| Leisure and Hospitality |
21,541 |
30,599 |
9,058 |
42.05 |
| Other Services (Except Government) |
7,711 |
10,965 |
3,254 |
42.20 |
| Government (Excluding State/Local Education & Hospitals) |
10,554 |
13,443 |
2,889 |
27.37 |
Projected Occupational Growth
2006-2016
Occupation |
Estimated Employment
|
Projected Employment
|
Numeric Change
|
Percent Change
|
Total Annual Openings
|
| Total, All Occupations |
275,859 |
372,267 |
96,408 |
34.95 |
15.770 |
| Management Occupations |
29,566 |
40,389 |
10,823 |
36.61 |
1,543 |
| Business and Financial Operations Occupations |
10,171 |
16,135 |
5,964 |
58.64 |
752 |
| Computer and Mathematical Occupations |
5,064 |
8,365 |
3,301 |
65.19 |
448 |
| Architecture and Engineering Occupations |
4,810 |
7,614 |
2,804 |
58.30 |
382 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations |
2,302 |
3,563 |
1,261 |
54.78 |
178 |
| Community and Social Services Occupations |
2,310 |
3,311 |
1,001 |
43.33 |
138 |
| Legal Occupations |
1,058 |
1,633 |
575 |
54.35 |
77 |
| Education, Training, and Library Occupations |
13,898 |
18,058 |
4,160 |
29.93 |
697 |
| Arts, Design, Entertain., Sports, & Media Occs |
3,503 |
4,632 |
1,129 |
32.23 |
206 |
| Healthcare Practitioners & Technical Occupations |
10,579 |
14,543 |
3,964 |
37.47 |
604 |
| Healthcare Support Occupations |
5,255 |
7,661 |
2,406 |
45.78 |
298 |
| Protective Service Occupations |
3,123 |
4,210 |
1,087 |
34.81 |
204 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations |
18,746 |
26,778 |
8,032 |
42.85 |
1,425 |
| Bldg & Grounds Cleaning & Maintenance Occs |
8,112 |
10,485 |
2,373 |
29.25 |
376 |
| Personal Care and Service Occupations |
6,918 |
9,591 |
2,673 |
38.64 |
438 |
| Sales and Related Occupations |
27,340 |
35,386 |
8,046 |
29.43 |
1,626 |
| Office and Administrative Support Occupations |
36,515 |
47,815 |
11,300 |
30.95
|
1,950 |
| Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations |
1,902 |
1,854 |
-48 |
-2.52 |
65 |
| Construction and Extraction Occupations |
13,176 |
18,425 |
5,249 |
39.84 |
775 |
| Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations |
9,755 |
13,126 |
3,371 |
34.56 |
495 |
| Production Occupations |
30,787 |
35,440 |
4,653 |
15.11 |
1,219 |
| Transportation and Material Moving Occupations |
30,969 |
43,253 |
12,284 |
39.67 |
1,878 |
Top Ten Growth Industries, 2006-2016
Ranked by Net Growth
| Industry |
2006
Base
Employment
|
2016
Projected
Employment
|
Net
Growth
|
%
Growth
|
|
Management of Companies and Enterprises
|
15,364
|
25,365
|
10,001
|
65.09
|
|
Truck Transportation
|
14,166
|
23,184
|
9,018
|
63.66
|
|
Food Services and Drinking Places
|
16,601
|
24,137
|
7,536
|
45.39
|
|
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
|
9,303
|
16,614
|
7,311
|
78.59
|
|
Educational Services
|
22,594
|
28,864
|
6,270
|
27.75
|
|
Specialty Trade Contractors
|
8,515
|
12,352
|
3,837
|
45.06
|
|
Ambulatory Health Care Services
|
7,771
|
11,465
|
3,694
|
47.54
|
|
Food Manufacturing
|
16,283
|
19,141
|
2,858
|
17.55
|
|
Social Assistance
|
4,556
|
6,858
|
2,302
|
50.53
|
|
Local Government, Exc Education & Hospitals
|
6,184
|
8,373
|
2,189
|
35.40
|
Top Ten Growth Occupations, 2006-2016
Ranked by Net Growth
|
Occupation
|
2006
Base
Employment
|
2016
Projected
Employment
|
Net
Growth
|
%
Growth
|
|
Truck Drivers, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer
|
15,140
|
24,268
|
9,128
|
60.29
|
|
Farmers and Ranchers
|
15,073
|
19,891
|
4,848
|
31.96
|
|
Retail Salespersons
|
7,739
|
10,320
|
2,581
|
33.35
|
|
Office Clerks, General
|
4,387
|
6,229
|
1,842
|
41.99
|
Combined Food Prep & Serving Workers, Incl. Fast Food
|
3,417
|
5,202
|
1,785
|
52.24
|
|
Waiters and Waitresses
|
3,977
|
5,697
|
1,720
|
43.25
|
|
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
|
3,952
|
5,543
|
1,591
|
40.26
|
|
Customer Service Representatives
|
2,508
|
3,970
|
1,462
|
58.29
|
|
Registered Nurses
|
3,501
|
4,899
|
1,398
|
39.93
|
|
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers
|
4,012
|
5,176
|
1,164
|
29.01
|
| Short-Term Employment Projections |
Projected Industry Growth
2008-2010
| Industry |
Estimated Employment
|
Projected Employment
|
Numeric Change
|
| Total Employment, All Jobs |
288,461 |
294,326 |
5,865 |
| Natural Resources and Mining |
1,800 |
1,759 |
-41 |
| Construction |
11,170 |
11,311 |
141 |
| Manufacturing |
38,687 |
37,812 |
-875 |
| Trade, Transportation, and Utilities |
54,045 |
55,276 |
1,231 |
| Information |
3,301 |
3,252 |
-49 |
| Financial Activities |
10,009 |
10,289 |
280 |
| Professional and Business Services |
32,935 |
33,997 |
1,062 |
| Education and Health Services |
59,875 |
61,904 |
2,029 |
| Leisure and Hospitality |
21,536 |
22,962 |
1,426 |
| Other Services (Except Government) |
8,155 |
8,191 |
36 |
| Government, Excluding State/Local Education and Hospitals |
11,199 |
11,581 |
382 |
Projected Occupational Growth
2008-2010
|
Occupation
|
Estimated Employ
|
Projected Employ
|
Numeric Change
|
Total Annual Openings
|
| Total, All Occupations |
288,461 |
294,326 |
5,865 |
9,747 |
| Management Occupations |
30,705 |
31,050 |
345 |
577 |
| Business and Financial Operations Occupations |
12,299 |
12,724 |
425 |
384 |
| Computer and Mathematical Occupations |
7,166 |
7,477 |
311 |
299 |
| Architecture and Engineering Occupations |
3,358 |
3,463 |
105 |
131 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations |
1,229 |
1,291 |
62 |
62 |
| Community and Social Services Occupations |
3,528 |
3,655 |
127 |
113 |
| Legal Occupations |
1,239 |
1,286 |
47 |
43 |
| Education, Training, and Library Occupations |
16,866 |
17,497 |
631 |
624 |
| Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations |
3,520 |
3,569 |
49 |
125 |
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations |
16,594 |
17,139 |
545 |
553 |
| Healthcare Support Occupations |
6,866 |
7,191 |
325 |
225 |
| Protective Service Occupations |
3,570 |
3,707 |
137 |
185 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations |
19,880 |
20,698 |
818 |
1,199 |
| Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations |
8,191 |
8,618 |
427 |
345 |
| Personal Care and Service Occupations |
6,470 |
6,687 |
217 |
271 |
| Sales and Related Occupations |
26,011 |
26,530 |
519 |
1,149 |
| Office and Administrative Support Occupations |
39,563 |
40,172 |
609 |
1,257 |
| Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations |
1,997 |
2,009 |
12 |
63 |
| Construction and Extraction Occupations |
11,497 |
11,642 |
145 |
278 |
| Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations |
10,124 |
10,317 |
193 |
258 |
| Production Occupations |
28,605 |
28,115 |
-490 |
792 |
| Transportation and Material Moving Occupations |
29,183 |
29,489 |
306 |
825 |
Top Ten Growth Industries, 2008-2010
Ranked by Net Growth
|
Industry
|
2008
Base
Employment
|
2010
Projected
Employment
|
Net
Growth
|
%
Growth
|
|
Educational Services
|
25,904
|
26,827
|
923
|
3.56%
|
| Accommodation |
2,881
|
3,659
|
778
|
27.00%
|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services |
9,465
|
10,065
|
600
|
6.34%
|
|
Food Services and Drinking Places
|
16,851
|
17,426
|
575
|
3.41%
|
|
Food Manufacturing
|
15,643
|
16,123
|
480
|
3.07%
|
|
Management of Companies and Enterprises
|
16,237
|
16,592
|
355
|
2.19%
|
|
General Merchandise Stores
|
7,517
|
7,870
|
353
|
4.70%
|
| Ambulatory Health Care Services |
8,402
|
8,732
|
330
|
3.93%
|
|
Truck Transportation
|
12,783
|
13,069
|
286
|
2.24%
|
| Hospitals |
16,335
|
16,618
|
283
|
1.73%
|
Top Ten Growth Occupations, 2008-2010
Ranked by Net Growth
| Occupation |
2008
Base
Employment
|
2010
Projected
Employment
|
Net
Growth
|
%
Growth
|
| Truck Drivers, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer |
13,915
|
14,182
|
267
|
1.92%
|
|
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
|
2,182
|
2,447
|
265
|
12.14%
|
| Registered Nurses |
6,234
|
6,473
|
239
|
3.83%
|
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers |
3,809
|
4,010
|
201
|
5.28%
|
| Retail Salespersons |
8,183
|
8,381
|
198
|
2.42%
|
| Waiters and Waitresses |
4,709
|
4,905
|
196
|
4.16%
|
| Combined Food Preparation & Serving Workers, Including Fast Food |
3,481
|
3,642
|
161
|
4.63%
|
| Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks |
538
|
687
|
149
|
27.70%
|
|
Nursing Aides, Orderlies and Attendants
|
3,220
|
3,356
|
136
|
4.22%
|
| Customer Service Representatives |
2,479
|
2,602
|
123
|
4.96%
|
| Occupational Employment and Wages |
Wages of Northwest's 10 Largest Occupations
May 2008
| Occupation |
Estimated Employment
|
Average
Wage
|
Entry Wage
|
Experience
Wage
|
| Truck Drivers, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer |
13,130 |
$41,876 |
$27,880 |
$48,874 |
| Retail Salespersons |
8,010 |
$21,088 |
$15,184 |
$24,040 |
| Cashiers |
5,880 |
$17,564 |
$14,723 |
$18,984 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand |
5,290 |
$22,309 |
$17,146 |
$24,891 |
| Office Clerks, General |
4,910 |
$18,042 |
$14,800 |
$19,663 |
| Waiters and Waitresses |
3,840 |
$22,806 |
$16,528 |
$25,946 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers |
3,790 |
$21,065 |
$17,782 |
$22,706 |
| Team Assemblers |
3,690 |
$26,559 |
$20,023 |
$29,827 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks |
3,580 |
$15,872 |
$14,637 |
$16,489 |
| Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers |
3,530 |
$50,761 |
$38,608 |
$56,837 |
|
Covered Employment and Earnings
|
Employment and Earnings, By Industry
Calendar Year 2008
| Industry |
Average Employing Units
|
Average Covered Employment
|
Total Earnings
|
Average Weekly Earnings
|
| Total, All Industries |
15,451 |
232,674 |
$8,594,293,487 |
$710.33 |
| Construction |
1,746 |
10,803 |
$391,532,632 |
$696.98 |
| Trade, Transportation & Utilities |
3,818 |
53,645 |
$1,917,061,551 |
$687.23 |
| Educational and Health Services |
1,956 |
25,365 |
$909,904,244 |
$689.85 |
| Leisure and Hospitality |
1,429 |
22,979 |
$299,056,622 |
$250.28 |
| Local and State Government |
431 |
28,401 |
$1,034,713,187 |
$700.62 |
| Other |
6,079 |
91,483 |
$4,042,025,251 |
$849.68 |
| Unemployment Rates and Labor Force Statistics |
September 2009
| County |
Civilian Labor Force
|
Number of Employed
|
Number of Unemployed
|
Unemploy. Rate
|
| Northwest LWIA |
281,175 |
265,500 |
15,675 |
5.6 |
| Baxter County |
17,475 |
16,050 |
1,425 |
8.2 |
| Benton County |
105,600 |
100,000 |
5,600 |
5.3 |
| Boone County |
16,925 |
15,850 |
1,075 |
6.4 |
| Carroll County |
14,275 |
13,650 |
625 |
4.3 |
| Madison County |
7,800 |
7,375 |
425 |
5.3 |
| Marion County |
6,925 |
6,150 |
775 |
11.2 |
| Newton County |
3,500 |
3,275 |
225 |
6.2 |
| Searcy County |
3,675 |
3,450 |
225 |
5.9 |
| Washington County |
105,000 |
99,700 |
5,300 |
5.0 |
2008 Census Population
| County |
Population |
| Baxter County |
42,115 |
| Benton County |
209,791 |
| Boone County |
36,881 |
| Carroll County |
27,557 |
| Madison County |
15,651 |
| Marion County |
16,774 |
| Newton County |
8,298 |
| Searcy County |
8,048 |
| Washington County |
195,803 |
2007 Total Personal Income - BEA
| County |
Income
|
| Baxter County |
$1,211,950,000 |
| Benton County |
$6,871,097,000 |
| Boone County |
$965,824,000 |
| Carroll County |
$651,058,000 |
| Madison County |
$354,384,000 |
| Marion County |
$385,828,000 |
| Newton County |
$171,594,000 |
| Searcy County |
$165,362,000 |
| Washington County |
$5,978,150,000 |
2007 Per Capita Income - BEA
| County |
Income
|
| Baxter County |
$28,944 |
| Benton County |
$33,908 |
| Boone County |
$26,357 |
| Carroll County |
$23,862 |
| Madison County |
$23,028 |
| Marion County |
$23,272 |
| Newton County |
$20,587 |
| Searcy County |
$20,488 |
| Washington County |
$30,845 |
2007 Median Household Income- Census
| County |
Income
|
| Baxter County |
$35,845 |
| Benton County |
$49,064 |
| Boone County |
$36,704 |
| Carroll County |
$32,060 |
| Madison County |
$34,877 |
| Marion County |
$31,064 |
| Newton County |
$28,819 |
| Searcy County |
$24,515 |
| Washington County |
$42,909 |
|
