Central Arkansas has shown faster job growth in the past two years than during the pre- COVID-19 period, Metroplan noted in its December report, “Metro Trends: Economic Review and Outlook.”
“There are signs of structural economic change underway,” said the report, pointing to the area’s manufacturing and logistics sectors in particular.
A chart showing job growth in central Arkansas
Since early 2021, manufacturing has been gaining ground at a faster pace — 4% to 6% year-over-year — than the previous 2015-2020 period, the report said.
The most dramatic changes in the regional economy have been in wholesale trade and in transportation and warehousing.