 |
The Southwest Arkansas Workforce Investment Area includes the counties of Calhoun, Columbia, Dallas, Hempstead, Howard, Lafayette, Little River, Miller, Nevada, Ouachita, Sevier, and Union. |
|
Long-Term Employment Projections
|
Projected Industry Growth
2006-2016
Industry |
Estimated Employment
|
Projected Employment
|
Numeric Change
|
Percent Change
|
| Total Employment, All Jobs |
100,729 |
101,346 |
617 |
0.61 |
| Natural Resources and Mining |
2,386 |
2,570 |
184 |
7.71 |
| Construction |
3,595 |
2,993 |
-602 |
-16.75 |
| Manufacturing |
26,312 |
27,370 |
1,058 |
4.02 |
| Trade, Transportation, and Utilities |
15,564 |
14,945 |
-619 |
-3.98 |
| Information |
708 |
607 |
-101 |
-14.27 |
| Financial Activities |
3,035 |
2,876 |
-159 |
-5.24 |
| Professional and Business Services |
4,125 |
3,765 |
-360 |
-8.73 |
| Education and Health Services |
18,884 |
21,196 |
2,312 |
12.24 |
| Leisure and Hospitality |
5,248 |
4,606 |
-642 |
-12.23 |
| Other Services (Except Government) |
3,016 |
2,812 |
-204 |
-6.76 |
| Government (Excluding State/Local Education & Hospitals) |
6,003 |
5,811 |
-192 |
-3.20 |
Projected Occupational Growth
2006-2016
Occupation |
Estimated Employment
|
Projected Employment
|
Numeric Change
|
Percent Change
|
Total Annual Openings
|
| Total, All Occupations |
100,729 |
101,346 |
617 |
0.61 |
2,748 |
| Management Occupations |
10,289 |
10,029 |
-260 |
-2.53 |
153 |
| Business and Financial Operations Occupations |
1,844 |
1,829 |
-15 |
-0.81 |
40 |
| Computer and Mathematical Occupations |
380 |
400 |
20 |
5.26 |
13 |
| Architecture and Engineering Occupations |
915 |
921 |
6 |
0.66 |
31 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations |
417 |
351 |
-66 |
-15.83 |
12 |
| Community and Social Services Occupations |
1,615 |
1,788 |
173 |
10.71 |
43 |
| Legal Occupations |
196 |
159 |
-37 |
-18.88
|
3 |
| Education, Training, and Library Occupations |
6,386 |
7,301 |
915 |
14.33 |
224 |
| Arts, Design, Entertain., Sports, & Media Occs |
504 |
487 |
-17 |
-3.37 |
14 |
| Healthcare Practitioners & Technical Occupations |
3,838 |
3,896 |
58 |
1.51 |
96 |
| Healthcare Support Occupations |
1,968 |
2,097 |
129 |
6.55 |
34 |
| Protective Service Occupations |
1,532 |
1,606 |
74 |
4.83 |
53 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations |
5,630 |
5,213 |
-417 |
-7.41 |
175 |
| Bldg & Grounds Cleaning & Maintenance Occs |
2,676 |
2,776 |
100 |
3.74 |
62 |
| Personal Care and Service Occupations |
2,130 |
2,477 |
347 |
16.29 |
90 |
| Sales and Related Occupations |
8,663 |
8,068 |
-595 |
-6.87 |
294 |
| Office and Administrative Support Occupations |
12,139 |
11,494 |
-645 |
-5.31 |
275 |
| Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations |
1,823 |
2,079 |
256 |
14.04 |
66 |
| Construction and Extraction Occupations |
4,575 |
4,117 |
-458 |
-10.01 |
89 |
| Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations |
4,958 |
4,889 |
-69 |
-1.39 |
90 |
| Production Occupations |
16,974 |
18,137 |
1,163 |
6.85 |
589 |
| Transportation and Material Moving Occupations |
11,277 |
11,232 |
-45 |
-0.40 |
304 |
Top Ten Growth Industries, 2006-2016
Ranked by Net Growth
|
Industry
|
2006
Base
Employment
|
2016
Projected
Employment
|
Net
Growth
|
%
Growth
|
|
Educational Services
|
9,363
|
10,503
|
1,140
|
12.18
|
|
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing
|
2,929
|
3,968
|
1,039
|
35.47
|
|
Social Assistance
|
1,606
|
2,374
|
768
|
47.82
|
|
Food Manufacturing
|
6,310
|
6,922
|
612
|
9.70
|
|
Nursing and Residential Care Facilities
|
3,222
|
3,672
|
450
|
13.97
|
|
Wood Product Manufacturing
|
3,765
|
4,191
|
426
|
11.31
|
|
Truck Transportation
|
2,673
|
3,057
|
384
|
14.37
|
|
Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
|
934
|
1,237
|
303
|
32.44
|
|
Administrative and Support Services
|
2,032
|
2,203
|
171
|
8.42
|
|
Oil and Gas Extraction
|
225
|
389
|
164
|
72.89
|
Top Ten Growth Occupations, 2006-2016
Ranked by Net Growth
|
Occupation
|
2006
Base
Employment
|
2016
Projected
Employment
|
Net
Growth
|
%
Growth
|
|
Team Assemblers
|
1,998
|
2,369
|
371
|
79
|
|
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmer
|
1,650
|
1,995
|
345
|
87
|
|
Truck Drivers, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer
|
3,195
|
3,503
|
308
|
88
|
|
Personal and Home Care Aides
|
613
|
849
|
236
|
34
|
|
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
|
1,147
|
1,336
|
189
|
44
|
|
Welders, Cutters, Solderers and Brazers
|
539
|
720
|
181
|
29
|
|
Helpers--Production Workers
|
1,750
|
1,911
|
161
|
59
|
|
Logging Equipment Operators
|
666
|
815
|
149
|
29
|
| Middle School Teachers, Exc Special & Vocational Ed |
1,046
|
1,194
|
148
|
38
|
|
Child Care Workers
|
651
|
795
|
144
|
33
|
| Short-Term Employment Projections |
Projected Industry Growth
2008-2010
| Industry |
Estimated Employment
|
Projected Employment
|
Numeric Change
|
| Total Employment, All Jobs |
100,527 |
99,073 |
-1,454 |
| Natural Resources and Mining |
2,924 |
2,917 |
-7 |
| Construction |
3,602 |
3,627 |
25 |
| Manufacturing |
23,945 |
21,563 |
-2,382 |
| Trade, Transportation, and Utilities |
15,650 |
15,736 |
86 |
| Information |
623 |
621 |
-2 |
| Financial Activities |
2,849 |
2,809 |
-40 |
| Professional and Business Services |
4,181 |
4,334 |
153 |
| Education and Health Services |
19,330 |
19,814 |
484 |
| Leisure and Hospitality |
5,225 |
5,363 |
138 |
| Other Services (Except Government) |
3,573 |
3,557 |
-16 |
| Government, Excluding State/Local Education and Hospitals |
6,084 |
6,278 |
194 |
Projected Occupational Growth
2008-2010
|
Occupation
|
Estimated Employ
|
Projected Employ
|
Numeric Change
|
Total Annual Openings
|
| Total, All Occupations |
100,527 |
99,073 |
-1,454 |
2,734 |
| Management Occupations |
11,429 |
11,333 |
-96 |
154 |
| Business and Financial Operations Occupations |
1,890 |
1,910 |
20 |
46 |
| Computer and Mathematical Occupations |
432 |
438 |
6 |
14 |
| Architecture and Engineering Occupations |
953 |
954 |
1 |
25 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations |
486 |
482 |
-4 |
16 |
| Community and Social Services Occupations |
1,880 |
1,935 |
55 |
54 |
| Legal Occupations |
207 |
210 |
3 |
4 |
| Education, Training, and Library Occupations |
6,716 |
6,881 |
165 |
211 |
| Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations |
729 |
731 |
2 |
23 |
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations |
3,679 |
3,799 |
120 |
132 |
| Healthcare Support Occupations |
2,023 |
20,82 |
59 |
47 |
| Protective Service Occupations |
1,631 |
1,694 |
63 |
80 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations |
5,979 |
6,147 |
168 |
284 |
| Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations |
2,961 |
2,939 |
-22 |
52 |
| Personal Care and Service Occupations |
2,134 |
2,152 |
18 |
68 |
| Sales and Related Occupations |
7,642 |
7,643 |
1 |
321 |
| Office and Administrative Support Occupations |
12,025 |
11,935 |
-90 |
304 |
| Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations |
1,693 |
1,618 |
-75 |
38 |
| Construction and Extraction Occupations |
4,917 |
4,956 |
39 |
129 |
| Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations |
4,640 |
4,522 |
-118 |
78 |
| Production Occupations |
16,008 |
14,776 |
-1,232 |
393 |
| Transportation and Material Moving Occupations |
10,473 |
9,936 |
-537 |
269 |
Top Ten Growth Industries, 2008-2010
Ranked by Net Growth
|
Industry
|
2008
Base
Employment
|
2010
Projected
Employment
|
Net
Growth
|
%
Growth
|
|
Educational Services
|
10,158
|
10,399
|
241
|
2.37%
|
|
Food Services and Drinking Places
|
4,304
|
4,476
|
172
|
4.00%
|
|
Ambulatory Health Care Services
|
2,446
|
2,587
|
141
|
5.76%
|
| Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals |
3,216
|
3,339
|
123
|
3.82%
|
|
Administrative and Support Services
|
1,996
|
2,104
|
108
|
5.41%
|
|
Truck Transportation
|
3,110
|
3,209
|
99
|
3.18%
|
|
State Government, Excluding Education and Hosptials
|
2,051
|
2,128
|
77
|
3.75%
|
| Support Activities for Mining |
811
|
887
|
76
|
9.37%
|
|
Paper Manufacturing
|
1,883
|
1,958
|
75
|
3.98%
|
|
Nursing and Residential Care Facilities
|
3,176
|
3,251
|
75
|
2.36%
|
Top Ten Growth Occupations, 2008-2010
Ranked by Net Growth
| Occupation |
2008
Base
Employment
|
2010
Projected
Employment
|
Net
Growth
|
%
Growth
|
|
Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food
|
1,583
|
1,648
|
65
|
4.11%
|
|
Retail Salespersons
|
1,910
|
1,956
|
46
|
2.41%
|
|
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
|
1,360
|
1,404
|
44
|
3.24%
|
|
Truck Driver, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer
|
3,033
|
3,075
|
42
|
1.38%
|
|
Registered Nurses
|
926
|
958
|
32
|
3.46%
|
|
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
|
1,017
|
1,045
|
28
|
2.75%
|
|
Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants
|
1,425
|
1,453
|
28
|
1.96%
|
|
Cooks, Fast Food
|
854
|
879
|
25
|
2.93%
|
|
Teacher Assistants
|
1,144
|
1,163
|
19
|
1.66%
|
|
Waiters and Waitresses
|
599
|
618
|
19
|
3.17%
|
| Occupational Employment and Wages |
Wages of Southwest's 10 Largest Occupations
May 2008
| Occupation |
Estimated Employment
|
Average
Wage
|
Entry Wage
|
Experience
Wage
|
| Truck Drivers, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer |
3,110 |
$38,705 |
$28,133 |
$43,991 |
| Team Assemblers |
2,890 |
$22,336 |
$17,542 |
$24,733 |
| Cashiers |
2,760 |
$16,413 |
$14,706 |
$17,266 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand |
2,460 |
$23,570 |
$16,547 |
$27,082 |
| Retail Salespersons |
1,880 |
$21,846 |
$14,796 |
$25,371 |
| Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants |
1,530 |
$17,770 |
$15,184 |
$19,063 |
| Helpers--Production Workers |
1,490 |
$25,091 |
$17,028 |
$29,123 |
| Office Clerks, General |
1,460 |
$21,357 |
$15,934 |
$24,069 |
| Combined Food Preparation & Serving Workers, Including Fast Food |
1,370 |
$15,130 |
$14,771 |
$15,310 |
| Janitors & Cleaners, Except Maids & Housekeeping Cleaners |
1,340 |
$18,763 |
$14,820 |
$20,734 |
|
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 |
5,875 |
84,512 |
$2,750,692,986 |
$625.92 |
| Natural Resources and Mining |
416 |
2,926 |
$113,423,110 |
$745.46 |
| Trade, Transportation & Utilities |
1,498 |
15,597 |
$464,328,851 |
$572.51 |
| Financial Activities |
542 |
2,838 |
$90,961,482 |
$616.37 |
| Educational and Health Services |
920 |
9,467 |
$256,032,779 |
$520.09
|
| Leisure and Hospitality |
403 |
5,331 |
$60,101,899 |
$216.81
|
| Local & State Government |
415 |
13,984 |
$411,236,982 |
$565.53 |
| Other |
1,697 |
34,377 |
$1,354,607,883 |
$757.78 |
| Unemployment Rates and Labor Force Statistics |
September 2009
| County |
Civilian Labor Force
|
Number of Employed
|
Number of Unemployed
|
Unemploy. Rate
|
| Southwest LWIA |
105,450 |
97,925 |
7,525 |
7.2 |
| Calhoun County |
2,525 |
2,375 |
150 |
6.2 |
| Columbia County |
10,700 |
9,825 |
875 |
8.1
|
| Dallas County |
3,875 |
3,575 |
300 |
7.6 |
| Hempstead County |
10,475 |
9,575 |
900 |
8.6 |
| Howard County |
6,325 |
5,875 |
450 |
7.2 |
| Lafayette County |
2,975 |
2,725 |
250 |
8.6 |
| Little River County |
6,850 |
6,475 |
375 |
5.6 |
| Miller County |
19,925 |
19,025 |
900 |
4.5 |
| Nevada County |
4,175 |
3,825 |
350 |
8.7 |
| Ouachita County |
11,575 |
10,750 |
825 |
7.1 |
| Sevier County |
7,400 |
7,025 |
375 |
5.1 |
| Union County |
18,650 |
16,875 |
1,775 |
9.5 |
2008 Census Population
| County |
Population |
| Calhoun County |
5,435 |
| Columbia County |
24,146 |
| Dallas County |
8,144 |
| Hempstead County |
22,900 |
| Howard County |
14,143 |
| Lafayette County |
7,705 |
| Little River County |
12,807 |
| Miller County |
43,226 |
| Nevada County |
9,157 |
| Ouachita County |
25,770 |
| Sevier County |
16,519 |
| Union County |
43,213 |
2007 Total Personal Income - BEA
| County |
Income
|
| Calhoun County |
$133,074,000 |
| Columbia County |
$750,398,000 |
| Dallas County |
$224,525,000 |
| Hempstead County |
$545,356,000 |
| Howard County |
$365,911,000 |
| Lafayette County |
$176,744,000 |
| Little River County |
$352,064,000 |
| Miller County |
$1,260,590,000 |
| Nevada County |
$243,067,000 |
| Ouachita County |
$691,433,000 |
| Sevier County |
$387,659,000 |
| Union County |
$1,647,048,000 |
2007 Per Capita Income - BEA
| County |
Income
|
| Calhoun County |
$24,099 |
| Columbia County |
$30,803 |
| Dallas County |
$27,321 |
| Hempstead County |
$23,565 |
| Howard County |
$26,178 |
| Lafayette County |
$22,806 |
| Little River County |
$27,456 |
| Miller County |
$29,463 |
| Nevada County |
$26,049 |
| Ouachita County |
$26,547 |
| Sevier County |
$23,850 |
| Union County |
$38,157 |
2007 Median Household Income - Census
| County |
Income
|
| Calhoun County |
$34,847 |
| Columbia County |
$36,981 |
| Dallas County |
$31,657 |
| Hempstead County |
$33,686 |
| Howard County |
$32,979 |
| Lafayette County |
$28,727 |
| Little River County |
$33,342 |
| Miller County |
$37,106 |
| Nevada County |
$32,306 |
| Ouachita County |
$33,418 |
| Sevier County |
$33,281 |
| Union County |
$37,120 |
|
