LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) -- The Arkansas Department of Workforce Services released the latest unemployment numbers in Arkansas.

Arkansas Civilian Labor Force Summary:
Labor force data, produced by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics and released today by the Department of Workforce Services, show Arkansas' seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped two-tenths of a percentage point from 7.4 percent in March to 7.2 percent in April. Arkansas' civilian labor force increased 500, a result of 3,300 more employed and 2,800 fewer unemployed Arkansans. The United States' jobless rate declined one-tenth of a percentage point from 8.2 percent in March to 8.1 percent in April.

DWS Communications Director Kimberly Friedman said, "The number of employed Arkansans increased for the ninth straight month. Higher employment in April contributed to the decrease in the unemployment rate. Compared to a year ago, there are 30,700 more employed Arkansans."

Arkansas Nonfarm Payroll Job Summary:
Nonfarm payroll jobs in Arkansas increased 6,100 in April to total 1,171,200. Eight major industry sectors posted gains, while one sector declined and two remained the same. Leisure and hospitality enjoyed the largest expansion (+3,700). Hiring was mostly seasonal, with food services adding a majority of the jobs (+2,100). Educational and health services gained 1,100 jobs. Most of the increase occurred in health care and social assistance (+800), attributed to reported hiring in nursing-residential care facilities and at hospitals. Employment in trade, transportation, and utilities rose 600. Seasonal gains in retail (+800) and wholesale (+700) trade more than offset the losses in transportation-warehousing-utilities (-900).

Since April 2011, Arkansas' nonfarm payroll employment decreased 5,400. Six major industry sectors reported declines, more than offsetting growth in four sectors. Employment in mining and logging remained stable. Jobs in professional and business services dropped 5,500. Losses in administrative and support services (-3,500) were attributed to reported declines in office administrative services and in employment services. Jobs in manufacturing fell 5,000, related to continued layoffs and closures.

Trade, transportation, and utilities employment decreased 2,500. A majority of the loss occurred in retail trade (-2,000), related in part to reported reductions at general merchandise stores. Leisure and hospitality added 4,800 jobs. The growth occurred in accommodation and food services. Jobs in government increased 3,700. Gains in local government (+4,800) more than offset the declines in federal government (-1,100). Employment in educational and health services rose 3,700, mostly in health care and social assistance (+2,500).