BusIness GuIde

Labor Pool — Central Arkansas CountiesBUSINESS & INDUSTRYStrong, Diverse Economy Powers RegionArkansas’s Rightto Work LawIn 1944, the people of Arkansasamended the state Constitutionto ensure that all people in Arkansaswould have the right to work,regardless of their affiliation ornon-affiliation with any type oflabor organization.Another important law governspeaceful labor relations. Act 193provides that any violence thattakes place on any picket line orin conjunction with a labor disputebecomes a felony and nota misdemeanor, and the personcommitting the act of violenceis liable for confinement in thestate penitentiary for not less thanone year.Labor ForceThe Arkansas Department of Workforce Services reports the following average labor pool estimatesas of October 2008:Labor Force Employment Unemployment Unemployment RateLittle Rock-North LittleRock-Conway MSA 343,450 329,450 14,000 4.1%MLRA Region 482,325 460,775 21,550 NAConway County 10,400 9,900 500 4.8%Faulkner County 54,650 52,450 2,200 4.0%Garland County 44,650 42,500 2,150 4.8%Grant County 8,850 8,475 375 4.3%Hot Spring County 15,050 14,200 850 5.7%Jefferson County 35,600 33,100 2,500 7.0%Lonoke County 32,325 31,050 1,275 3.9%Perry County 5,000 4,775 225 4.3%Pulaski County 193,100 185,150 7,950 4.1%Saline County 49,525 47,550 1,975 4.0%White County 33,175 31,625 1,550 4.7%Arkansas Department of Workforce Services, October 2008Leading Non-Manufacturing Employers (1,000 Employees and Up)ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTWorkers’ CompensationArkansas has the most competitiveand progressive workers’ compensationprograms in the nation,with more than 30 insurance underwriters.Since July 1, 1992, thestate has not experienced a rateincrease, and premiums have decreasedoverall by 38 percent.Employer Product/Service EmployeesState Government Government 32,200Local Government Government 28,800Federal Government Government 9,200University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Education/Medical Services 8,500Pulaski County Public School Districts (3) Education 7,411Baptist Health Medical Services 7,000Little Rock Air Force Base Government 4,500Acxiom Data Processing 4,388Central Arkansas Veterans Health Care System Medical Services 3,500Entergy Arkansas Utility (Electric) 2,738AT&T Utility (Telephone) 2,613St. Vincent Health System Medical Services 2,600Alltel Corporation Telecommunications 2,500Arkansas Children’s Hospital Medical Services 2,470Dillard's Inc. Department Store Headquarters 2,400Union Pacific Railroad Transportation 2,000CenterPoint Energy Utility (Natural Gas) 1,600Arkansas Blue Cross & Blue Shield Insurance 1,800University of Arkansas at Little Rock Education 1,384University of Central Arkansas Education 1,250Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. Data Processing 1,170Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce 2009 Business Guide 59