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[chittlins]

Good News for SDC as a couple of major markets for it is doing well. We need Ft. Smith to land something though:



NW Arkansas Fourth In Nation In Job Growth; Jonesboro Eleventh

http://talkbusiness.net/2014/01/nw-arkansas-fourth-nation-job-growth-jonesboro-eleventh/

By Steve Brawner

January 28th, 2014

The Northwest Arkansas metropolitan statistical area ranked fourth in nonfarm job growth in the nation in 2013, according to preliminary information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released Tuesday. Or 11th, depending on how you look at it.

The Northwest Arkansas region averaged 9,580 more jobs in a typical month in 2013 over the same month in 2012, a "moving average" growth rate of 4.56 percent. That's according to information aggregated by Arizona State University's W.P. Carey School of Business and shared Tuesday by the Northwest Arkansas Council. The Bureau ranked 383 metropolitan areas reporting out of 428 total.

The region includes Washington, Benton, and Madison counties in Arkansas and McDonald County in Missouri.

However, Northwest Arkansas ranked 11th with its year-end ranking comparing the end of December 2013 with the end of December 2012. The region grew by 8,900 jobs over that time period.

Jonesboro's moving average ranked 11th in the country with a 3.69 percent growth rate after adding an average of about 1,880 jobs. Jonesboro ranked 14th comparing December 2013 to December 2012.

Other Arkansas areas ranked as follows in the moving average category: Fort Smith, 110th with a 1.69 percent job growth rate; Little Rock-North Little Rock, 158th with a 1.28 percent growth rate; Hot Springs, 326th after shrinking .22 percent; Pine Bluff, 370th after shrinking 1.74 percent.

Comparing December 31sts, Fort Smith ranked much better at 34th, while Little Rock ranked 191st, Hot Springs ranked 342nd, and Pine Bluff ranked 343rd.

Nationally, Midland, Tex., ranked first in moving averages thanks to a 6.15 percent job growth rate, followed by Odessa, Tex., which grew 5.71 percent. Winchester, Va., was third with a 4.62 percent increase.

Over the first 11 months of 2013, the Northwest Arkansas area added 1,299 jobs in health care and social assistance with an average salary of $48,430; 1,181 jobs in management of companies and enterprises with an average salary of $125,393; and 681 jobs in retail trade with an average salary of $27,763.

Mike Harvey, Northwest Arkansas Council chief operating officer, said the job growth has been "broad-based." The Northwest Arkansas Council is a coordinating economic and community development nonprofit agency.

Harvey said the one area that could be improved is manufacturing, where the area gained 86 jobs after losing 8,570 manufacturing jobs over approximately the last 12 years. "To say we pulled off a year where we held our own is pretty exciting to me at this point," he said.

Looking back over those 12 years, the area gained 58,938 jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Those include 10,093 jobs in health care and social assistance, and 9,252 business management jobs.

According to the Council, the region has ranked in the top 20 in percentage growth rate seven times since 1991.

Steve Brawner

[Junior]

Good news for NW Arkansas! I am among the roughly 1800 new people working at a new job at a new firm in NW Arkansas, a company based in Rogers. Our employers tell us that we are the third largest company in terms of number of employees in Benton County. I know Wal Mart has got to be first place, my guess is JB Hunt or Tyson would be second, not sure who it is, though. Just wish salaries were higher by about 5 or 10 thousand more, that would be wonderful!

[chittlins]

Good news for NW Arkansas! I am among the roughly 1800 new people working at a new job at a new firm in NW Arkansas, a company based in Rogers. Our employers tell us that we are the third largest company in terms of number of employees in Benton County. I know Wal Mart has got to be first place, my guess is JB Hunt or Tyson would be second, not sure who it is, though. Just wish salaries were higher by about 5 or 10 thousand more, that would be wonderful!

You working at Serfco?

Bentonville is expecting 60,000 by 2030. To put that into perspective, that was what Fayetteville was around when I came to school in the early 90's. Fayetteville should eclipse 100,000 around that time.

[qwed94]

That sounds great for NW AR. I sure wish STL could pick up companies. We are just in a downward spiral of companies closing shop. Hostess, Ford, Chrysler, Pevely dairy, the entire Crestwood Mall, the entire Northwest Plaza Mall, a few Sears stores, a couple Macys stores, US Cellular, ETC.

As I said, I wish STL could find more places to work.

On a good note. The GM plant is going to hire 1200 to work on the re-designed Colorado/Canyon P/U trucks to be sold as 2015s.  That will definitely create more jobs in Wentzville area. (Just like Chrysler did in Fenton). So I guess that is about the only good news I have for STL jobs

Junior--congrats on the new job. 
Chitlins--I guess you are NOT looking for a job, but if you are--Best of luck!!

[Duelist]

I drive a 2010 Canyon- good truck.