By Rob Moritz
Arkansas News Bureau

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas’ unemployment rate in September remained at 7.1 percent for the second straight month, labor statistics released today show.

The national unemployment rate rose one-tenth of a percentage point in September to 9.8 percent.

During the month, the state’s labor force rose by 8,400, while the number of unemployed rose by 600, according to the state Department of Workforce Services.

“This is the first time since February 2009 that the monthly gain in the number of employed was larger than the increase in the number of unemployed,” said department spokeswoman Kimberly Friedman.

The unemployment rate in Arkansas in September 2008 was 5.2 percent, and the national unemployment rate was 6.2 percent.

The unemployment numbers were released a day after the governor announced plans to cut $100 million from this year’s state budget because of a drop in expected revenues.

About 1.3 million Arkansans were employed in September, while 87,100 were out of work in the state, DWS reported.

The largest gains during the month were in government and educational health services.

Government jobs rose 12,400 during the month, mostly from rehiring in the public schools.

Educational and health services added 1,700. A majority of that gain occurred in educational services, due mainly to hiring trends at private education facilities.

Seasonal downturns affected multiple sectors, including construction, which dropped 2,600 jobs.

Leisure and hospitality jobs, also affected by seasonal changes, dropped 1,800.