Arkansas Workforce Outlook

Arkansas has seen a shift in the age of its workforce. The percentage of mature workers, those 55 and older, has increased. While older workers increased, the percentage of younger workers, ages 14-44, has decreased since 2003.

Employment in Arkansas is projected to increase by 2.6 percent between 2007 and 2009. Of the 35,514 new jobs to be added during the projection period, 30,861 are estimated to occur in services industries, while goods industries are predicted to add 3,092 jobs. Arkansas is projected to add 1,561 self-employed and unpaid family workers to the workforce. The state’s top growing occupations require only short-term on-the-job training, resulting in rapid opportunities for individuals to contribute to economic growth. Mirroring the fastest industry growth, jobs related to oil and natural gas will be among the top fastest-growing occupations. Production related occupations lead the fastest-declining occupations.

Mississippi Workforce Outlook

Mississippi’s economy is robust and growing. Over 38,000 new jobs have been added in the last three years, and per capita income has grown more than 15%. Many new companies have decided to locate in Mississippi, producing thousands of new high-paying jobs.

By 2014, Mississippi needs 200,000 more workers, but population projections indicate a growth of only 100,000 more workers.  The State plans to address this worker shortage first by looking inside Mississippi.

Mississippi plans to reclaim more of its non-participants in the labor force and extend training and placement opportunities to high school dropouts, ex-offenders, welfare recipients, and those with disabilities so that they too can become productive workers. In addition, Mississippi plans to look outside its borders and attract workers from other states to come live and work in Mississippi.

Tennessee Workforce Outlook

Tennessee is expected to show a 0.6 percent average annual increase in employment in 2008 and 2009 according to Department of Labor and Workforce short-term projections. About 34,580 new jobs are expected from the second quarter of 2007 to the second quarter of 2009. Goods-producing jobs are likely to have an average annual 2.0 percent decline for 2008 and 2009, but services-providing jobs are expected to grow annually at 1.2 percent. Other services are expected to grow at 2.0 percent or more.

Industry sectors growing between 1.0 and 2.0 percent annually include arts, entertainment, and recreation; accommodation and foodservices; management of companies and enterprises; transportation and warehousing; and wholesale trade. Industry employment growing at or above the average rate for the state includes technical services and information.

Among detailed occupations, social and human service assistants, network systems and data communications analysts, and home health aides are among occupations projected to have strong growth rates in 2008 and 2009. Expanding occupational groups include community and social services; healthcare support; education, training; healthcare practitioners and technical; and personal care and service occupations. Half the job growth is expected in three major occupational groups rich in number of jobs, and in variety of job opportunities. These groups are food preparation; education, training, and library; and healthcare practitioners and technical.

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