Getting a Job in Arkansas

By Arkansas Next staff on Tuesday, September 3, 2019

Here's who’s hiring at Arkansas’ best companies.

The Most Jobs in Arkansas

According to Arkansas Business (2018), these 15 employers give jobs to the largest number of people in Arkansas. A variety of majors could lead to a career with one of these movers and shakers.

EMPLOYER NO. OF EMPLOYEES IN ARKANSAS
Arkansas State Government 61,559
Walmart Inc. 53,994
Tyson Foods Inc. 24,400
U.S. Government 19,800
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences 11,320
Baptist Health 9,393
Mercy 5,115
CHI St. Vincent 5,093
Arkansas Children's Hospital 4,413
Kroger Co. 4,355
J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. 4,231
Arvest Bank 3,519
Entergy Arkansas 3,500
FedEx Corp. 3,300
Simmons Foods Inc. 3,252

Top Industries in Arkansas by Region

Arkansas is a diverse state, and each region is unique in its opportunities. Check out where your hometown falls in this map of industries (and maybe where you should move to pursue your future career).

According to the Arkansas Labor Market & Economic Report (2017) as prepared by the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services, these are the regions’ industries as divided by supersector, top growth and fastest growth.

Northwest Arkansas
Supersector: Education and health services.
Top Growth: Professional, scientific and technical services.
Fastest Growth: Support activities for agriculture and forestry.

Western Arkansas
Supersector: Education and health services.
Top Growth: Administrative and support services.
Fastest Growth: Support activities for agriculture and forestry manufacturing.

Southwest Arkansas
Supersector: Education and health services.
Top Growth: Food services and drinking places.
Fastest Growth: Support activities for transportation.

West-Central Arkansas
Supersector: Education and health services.
Top Growth: Administrative and support services.
Fastest Growth: Chemical manufacturing production.

North-Central Arkansas
Supersector: Education and health services.
Top Growth: Hospitals.
Growth: Private households.

Central Arkansas
Supersector: Trade, transportation and utilities.
Top Growth: Food services and drinking places.
Fastest Growth: Data processing, hosting and related services.

Little Rock
Supersector: Financial activities.
Top Growth: Insurance carriers and related activities.
Fastest Growth: Heavy and civil engineering construction.

Southeast Arkansas
Supersector: Education and health services.
Top Growth: Food manufacturing.
Fastest Growth: Amusement, gambling and recreation industries.

Eastern Arkansas
Supersector: Leisure and hospitality.
Top Growth: Food services and drinking places.
Fastest Growth: Plastics and rubber products manufacturing.

Northeast Arkansas
Supersector: Manufacturing.
Top Growth: Food manufacturing.
Fastest Growth: Animal production.