Arkansas sees booming construction job growth, driving state’s economic expansion

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — Unemployment across the state is down and construction jobs are up. In fact, construction jobs continue to dominate the Arkansas job market.

Since last year, there has been an increase in construction jobs of 9% with the Arkansas Department of Commerce consistently reporting construction in the highest category for job increases, the month of June adding 2,200 jobs.

“Employment in Arkansas has grown at about 2% but construction employment has grown over 9% so it has really been one of the leaders when it comes to employment growth in Arkansas over the past year or two,” said Michael Pakko, Arkansas economic forecaster for the Arkansas Economic Development Institute.

You may think road work makes up most of the construction jobs but that is not the case.

“About a third of growth is coming from an area called building equipment contractors which is basically they build and maintain the mechanical components of buildings,” said Pakko. “That would include water, heating and air conditioning. The other area of strong growth is in non-residential building constructions so that covers industrial and commercial activity.”

Randy Zook, President of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, said big companies have been moving in all over the state. From the new WestRock building in Conway to the seventh steel mill is expected to start construction soon in Mississippi County, which has been named the largest steel production in the country.

Zook said there is even growth right here in the capital city.

“The Little Rock area has all of these distribution centers that have been built or are finishing up right now, Target, Dollar General, and Tractor Supply which doesn’t include the three Amazon so it is all over the state,” said Zook.

What this growth means for Arkansans, Zook said, is more job opportunities more options, and a better quality of life.

“New facilities, new services, new attractions,” said Zook. “Everything from an ice cream store on Broadway in Little Rock to a Top Golf on the west side of town. All those things come with economic growth.”

Zook said Arkansas is growing as fast as we can manage at the moment and has the capacity to continue to grow as long as the infrastructure matches to accommodate that growth.