What share of people in Arkansas are working?

59.1% of residents aged 16 and over were in the labor force in September 2026, and 56.9% had a job; 13th lowest of 51 for labor force participation (50 states and DC combined: 61.6%).

Economy, jobs and prices in Arkansas, United States: official figures

The economy of Arkansas (gross domestic product) was worth $196.0 billion in 2025 at current prices, 0.6% of the US total of $30.86 trillion; 17th smallest of 51. In current dollars it was up 3.9% on 2024.

GDP (current dollars)

$196.0 billion

2025

GDP per resident

$62,922

2025

Personal income per person

$61,697

2025

Median household income

$62,106

2024

Unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted)

3.9%

September 2026

Average annual pay (QCEW)

$61,152

2025

Median household income

$62,146

2024

Median gross rent (monthly)

$982

2024

How fast is the economy of Arkansas growing?

After adjusting for inflation, real GDP in Arkansas grew 0.9% in 2025, against 2.3% for the United States; 8th slowest-growing of 51.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

What is the GDP per capita of Arkansas?

Dividing 2025 GDP by the Census Bureau's population estimate gives $62,922 of output per resident, against $90,294 for the US economy divided by the population of the 50 states and DC; 2nd lowest of 51.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

Is the economy of Arkansas growing or shrinking?

In the second quarter of 2026, real GDP in Arkansas grew at an annual rate of 1.1% (United States: 2.2%); 18th slowest-growing of 51.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

What are the main industries in Arkansas?

In 2025 the largest private industry in Arkansas' economy was manufacturing (12.8% of GDP), followed by real estate, rental and leasing (11.1%) and health care and social assistance (8.6%). Government accounted for 11.0%; the manufacturing share was 12th highest of 51 (United States: 9.5%).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

How much do people in Arkansas spend?

Consumer spending (personal consumption expenditures) in Arkansas came to $48,180 per person in 2025 (United States: $61,062); 3rd lowest of 51.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

Is Arkansas expensive to live in?

Prices in Arkansas were 13.1% below the national average in 2024, by BEA's regional price parity of 86.9 (US = 100), which covers goods, services and housing; the least expensive of 51.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

What is the inflation rate in Arkansas?

Prices in Arkansas rose 2.8% in 2024, measured by BEA's implicit regional price deflator, against 2.6% nationally (PCE price index).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

What is the per capita income in Arkansas?

Personal income per person in Arkansas was $61,697 in 2025, against $77,028 for the United States; 5th lowest of 51. It was up 3.9% on 2024 and up 30.9% on 2020, before inflation.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

What is the disposable income per person in Arkansas?

After taxes, disposable personal income per person was $55,604 in 2025 (United States: $67,251); 5th lowest of 51.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

How far does income go in Arkansas?

Adjusted for local price levels, real personal income per person in Arkansas was $55,219 in 2024 in 2017 dollars (United States: $59,195); 14th lowest of 51.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

What is the median household income in Arkansas?

Median household income in Arkansas was $62,106 in 2024 (margin of error ±$831), against $81,604 for the United States; 4th lowest of 51 by the point estimate. It was up 2.8% on 2023 after adjusting for inflation (American Community Survey).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How unequal are incomes in Arkansas?

The Gini index of household income inequality in Arkansas was 0.472 in 2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 means one household has everything; United States: 0.481); tied for 17th most unequal of 51.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the unemployment rate in Arkansas?

The unemployment rate in Arkansas was 3.9% in September 2026 (seasonally adjusted, preliminary), down from 4.2% a year earlier; tied for 25th highest of 51. The rate for the 50 states and DC combined was 4.2%.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

How many people are unemployed in Arkansas?

In September 2026, 56,194 people in Arkansas were unemployed and 1,402,996 employed, out of a labor force of 1,459,190.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

What was the unemployment rate in Arkansas in 2025?

Over 2025 the unemployment rate in Arkansas averaged 4.1% (an 11-month average: October 2025 was not collected during the federal shutdown), against 3.5% in 2024; 23rd highest of 51. The lowest annual rate since 1976 was 3.2% in 2022.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

What is the average salary in Arkansas?

Workers covered by unemployment insurance in Arkansas were paid $61,152 on average in 2025 ($1,176 a week), up 4.7% on 2024; the US average was $78,720. That is 5th lowest of 51.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

How many jobs are there in Arkansas?

Employers in Arkansas had an average of 1,305,532 jobs on their payrolls in 2025 across 109,976 establishments, up 0.8% on 2024 (United States: up 0.5%).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

What is the median wage in Arkansas?

The median annual wage across all occupations in Arkansas was $43,630 in May 2025 (mean $54,890); 2nd lowest of 51. One in ten workers earned less than $27,020 and one in ten more than $94,740.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

What is the most common job in Arkansas?

The most common occupation in Arkansas in May 2025 was fast food and counter workers, with 35,660 workers and a median annual wage of $26,250.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

What is the median household income in Arkansas?

Median household income in Arkansas was $62,146 in 2024, 4th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $81,604). In 2019 it was $49,020, so it has risen 26.8% before allowing for inflation.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the average rent in Arkansas?

The median gross rent in Arkansas, including utilities, was $982 a month in 2024, up 5.3% on 2023 ($933); 4th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $1,487).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the median home value in Arkansas?

Homeowners in Arkansas valued their homes at a median of $215,600 in 2024, up 10.2% on 2023 ($195,700); 3rd lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $360,600).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How affordable are homes in Arkansas?

The median home value in Arkansas was 3.5 times the median household income in 2024 ($215,600 against $62,146); 11th lowest ratio among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 4.4).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Is rent affordable in Arkansas?

A household on the median income in Arkansas would spend 19.0% of its income on the median rent of $982 a month in 2024 (U.S.: 21.9%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Arkansas compares with other states

Gross domestic product, 2025 (current dollars) (2025)

Arkansas ranks 35 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Gross domestic product, 2025 (current dollars)
32	Iowa	$271.9 billion
33	Kansas	$232.1 billion
34	Nebraska	$206.6 billion
35	Arkansas	$196.0 billion
36	District of Columbia	$193.0 billion
37	Mississippi	$162.8 billion
38	New Mexico	$152.1 billion

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

GDP per resident, 2025 (BEA GDP / Census population) (2025)

Arkansas ranks 50 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	GDP per resident, 2025 (BEA GDP / Census population)
45	South Carolina	$67,929
46	Idaho	$67,695
47	Oklahoma	$66,523
48	Alabama	$65,286
49	West Virginia	$63,020
50	Arkansas	$62,922
51	Mississippi	$55,117

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

Real GDP growth, 2025 (2025)

Arkansas ranks 44 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Real GDP growth, 2025
41	Nebraska	1.3%
42	Missouri	1.2%
43	Kansas	1.0%
44	Arkansas	0.9%
45	Wisconsin	0.8%
46	Maryland	0.8%
47	Minnesota	0.7%

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

Real GDP growth, 2026:Q2 (annual rate) (2026:Q2)

Arkansas ranks 34 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Real GDP growth, 2026:Q2 (annual rate)
31	Maryland	1.3%
32	Nevada	1.3%
33	Virginia	1.2%
34	Arkansas	1.1%
35	Colorado	1.0%
36	Rhode Island	0.9%
37	Oregon	0.8%

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

Personal income per person, 2025 (2025)

Arkansas ranks 47 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Personal income per person, 2025
44	Louisiana	$64,103
45	South Carolina	$63,435
46	New Mexico	$62,089
47	Arkansas	$61,697
48	Kentucky	$60,835
49	Alabama	$59,754
50	West Virginia	$58,217

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

Real personal income per person, 2024 (adjusted for local prices, 2017 dollars) (2024)

Arkansas ranks 38 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Real personal income per person, 2024 (adjusted for local prices, 2017 dollars)
35	Rhode Island	$55,878
36	Indiana	$55,562
37	Oregon	$55,451
38	Arkansas	$55,219
39	Delaware	$55,185
40	Utah	$55,116
41	Michigan	$53,569

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

Median household income, 2024 (ACS) (2024)

Arkansas ranks 48 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Median household income, 2024 (ACS)
45	Alabama	$66,659
46	Oklahoma	$66,148
47	Kentucky	$64,526
48	Arkansas	$62,106
49	Louisiana	$60,986
50	West Virginia	$60,798
51	Mississippi	$59,127

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Regional price parity, 2024 (US = 100) (2024)

Arkansas ranks 51 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Regional price parity, 2024 (US = 100)
45	Alabama	88.8
46	South Dakota	88.6
47	Louisiana	88.2
48	Oklahoma	87.8
49	Iowa	87.8
50	Mississippi	87.0
51	Arkansas	86.9

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copy

Unemployment rate, September 2026 (seasonally adjusted) (September 2026)

Arkansas ranks 26 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Unemployment rate, September 2026 (seasonally adjusted)
23	Louisiana	4.0%
24	West Virginia	4.0%
25	Maryland	3.9%
26	Arkansas	3.9%
27	Kansas	3.8%
28	Pennsylvania	3.6%
29	Virginia	3.6%

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

Unemployment rate, 2025 annual average (2025)

Arkansas ranks 23 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Unemployment rate, 2025 annual average
20	Texas	4.2%
21	New Mexico	4.2%
22	West Virginia	4.2%
23	Arkansas	4.1%
24	Missouri	4.0%
25	Maryland	4.0%
26	Colorado	4.0%

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

Labor force participation rate, September 2026 (September 2026)

Arkansas ranks 39 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Labor force participation rate, September 2026
36	Wyoming	60.2%
37	Arizona	59.7%
38	Tennessee	59.3%
39	Arkansas	59.1%
40	South Carolina	58.8%
41	Michigan	58.5%
42	Maine	58.5%

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

Average annual pay, 2025 (QCEW) (2025)

Arkansas ranks 47 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Average annual pay, 2025 (QCEW)
44	Montana	$62,882
45	Kentucky	$62,521
46	Idaho	$62,392
47	Arkansas	$61,152
48	Oklahoma	$60,996
49	South Dakota	$60,575
50	West Virginia	$60,359

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

Median annual wage, all occupations, May 2025 (OEWS) (May 2025)

Arkansas ranks 50 of 51, highest first.

Rank	Region	Median annual wage, all occupations, May 2025 (OEWS)
45	South Carolina	$46,490
46	Alabama	$45,670
47	Oklahoma	$45,600
48	Louisiana	$45,520
49	West Virginia	$45,300
50	Arkansas	$43,630
51	Mississippi	$40,120

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copy

Median household income (2024)

Arkansas ranks 48 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates

Rank	Region	Median household income
45	Alabama	$66,704
46	Oklahoma	$66,124
47	Kentucky	$64,481
48	Arkansas	$62,146
49	Louisiana	$61,038
50	West Virginia	$60,662
51	Mississippi	$59,301

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median gross rent (monthly) (2024)

Arkansas ranks 48 of 51, highest first. Renter-occupied units paying cash rent

Rank	Region	Median gross rent (monthly)
45	Kentucky	$998
46	Wyoming	$998
47	Mississippi	$990
48	Arkansas	$982
49	Iowa	$981
50	North Dakota	$980
51	West Virginia	$883

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median value of owner-occupied homes (2024)

Arkansas ranks 49 of 51, highest first. Owner-reported value

Rank	Region	Median value of owner-occupied homes
45	Iowa	$227,300
46	Kentucky	$226,000
47	Louisiana	$223,200
48	Oklahoma	$222,100
49	Arkansas	$215,600
50	Mississippi	$186,500
51	West Virginia	$170,800

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

More on Arkansas: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · the United States

Sources

U.S. Census Bureau: Household Income in States and Metropolitan Areas: 2024 (ACSBR-025), Appendix Table 1: median household income and Gini index by state, 2023 and 2024 American Community Survey, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5de1b0d5ec46…)
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis: SASUMMARY: State annual summary statistics: personal income, GDP, consumer spending, price indexes, and employment (updated 30 September 2026), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a3757d207c05…)
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis: SAGDP: Annual GDP by state, 1997-2025 (table SAGDP2, GDP in current dollars by industry), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3d3c5bc7bd24…)
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis: SQGDP: Quarterly GDP by state, 2005-2026 Q2 (table SQGDP11, percent change in real GDP at annual rate), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1649260cdceb…)
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Local Area Unemployment Statistics: employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population, states, monthly, seasonally adjusted, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7bb6f18d4145…)
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Local Area Unemployment Statistics: employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population, states, annual averages 1976-2025, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 262aba7d00df…)
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 state estimates (state_M2025_dl.xlsx), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 74d5be0e1df8…)
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages, all industries (open data CSV slice), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5a5f89142aae…)
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Median gross rent (B25064), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8624f9775add…)
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Median value of owner-occupied homes (B25077), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 27120d5d8a5f…)
U.S. Census Bureau: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): 2024 poverty and median household income, states and counties, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 cb52c47d75c1…)

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