Data / Rankings / Covered employment (QCEW) / Counties in Arkansas

Counties in Arkansas by covered employment (QCEW)

Pulaski County had the highest covered employment (QCEW) of 75 counties in 2022, at 251,364 jobs. Newton County had the lowest, at 985 jobs. The median was 5,801 jobs and the figure for Arkansas was 1,248,972 jobs. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest251,364Pulaski County
Lowest985Newton County
Median5,80175 counties
Arkansas1,248,972History

Map of counties, 2022

Arkansas County: 10,342 jobsAshley County: 5,801 jobsBaxter County: 15,561 jobsBenton County: 134,825 jobsBoone County: 14,453 jobsBradley County: 3,550 jobsCalhoun County: 1,970 jobsCarroll County: 10,889 jobsChicot County: 2,826 jobsClark County: 8,195 jobsClay County: 3,070 jobsCleburne County: 6,325 jobsCleveland County: 989 jobsColumbia County: 7,917 jobsConway County: 6,826 jobsCraighead County: 53,317 jobsCrawford County: 19,269 jobsCrittenden County: 15,750 jobsCross County: 4,643 jobsDallas County: 2,639 jobsDesha County: 4,333 jobsDrew County: 6,284 jobsFaulkner County: 42,730 jobsFranklin County: 4,829 jobsFulton County: 2,154 jobsGarland County: 37,775 jobsGrant County: 4,287 jobsGreene County: 15,619 jobsHempstead County: 7,805 jobsHot Spring County: 8,122 jobsHoward County: 6,431 jobsIndependence County: 16,777 jobsIzard County: 2,797 jobsJackson County: 5,115 jobsJefferson County: 25,838 jobsJohnson County: 8,512 jobsLafayette County: 1,075 jobsLawrence County: 3,968 jobsLee County: 1,708 jobsLincoln County: 2,684 jobsLittle River County: 3,083 jobsLogan County: 5,153 jobsLonoke County: 14,924 jobsMadison County: 3,546 jobsMarion County: 3,599 jobsMiller County: 12,260 jobsMississippi County: 17,176 jobsMonroe County: 1,852 jobsMontgomery County: 1,218 jobsNevada County: 2,143 jobsNewton County: 985 jobsOuachita County: 8,230 jobsPerry County: 1,060 jobsPhillips County: 4,697 jobsPike County: 2,572 jobsPoinsett County: 5,283 jobsPolk County: 5,896 jobsPope County: 25,227 jobsPrairie County: 1,498 jobsPulaski County: 251,364 jobsRandolph County: 5,934 jobsSt. Francis County: 6,837 jobsSaline County: 26,247 jobsScott County: 3,022 jobsSearcy County: 1,452 jobsSebastian County: 65,260 jobsSevier County: 4,797 jobsSharp County: 3,706 jobsStone County: 2,575 jobsUnion County: 16,583 jobsVan Buren County: 3,770 jobsWashington County: 116,180 jobsWhite County: 25,120 jobsWoodruff County: 1,904 jobsYell County: 6,395 jobs
  • Under 2,000
  • 2,000 to 4,000
  • 4,000 to 6,000
  • 6,000 to 8,000
  • 8,000 to 17K
  • 17K and over
jobs, 2022. Source: BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2022

Pulaski County: 251,364 jobsPulaski County251,364Benton County: 134,825 jobsBenton County134,825Washington County: 116,180 jobsWashington County116,180Sebastian County: 65,260 jobsSebastian County65,260Craighead County: 53,317 jobsCraighead County53,317Faulkner County: 42,730 jobsFaulkner County42,730Garland County: 37,775 jobsGarland County37,775Saline County: 26,247 jobsSaline County26,247Jefferson County: 25,838 jobsJefferson County25,838Pope County: 25,227 jobsPope County25,227White County: 25,120 jobsWhite County25,120Crawford County: 19,269 jobsCrawford County19,269Mississippi County: 17,176 jobsMississippi County17,176Independence County: 16,777 jobsIndependence County16,777Union County: 16,583 jobsUnion County16,583Crittenden County: 15,750 jobsCrittenden County15,750Greene County: 15,619 jobsGreene County15,619Baxter County: 15,561 jobsBaxter County15,561Lonoke County: 14,924 jobsLonoke County14,924Boone County: 14,453 jobsBoone County14,453Miller County: 12,260 jobsMiller County12,260Carroll County: 10,889 jobsCarroll County10,889Arkansas County: 10,342 jobsArkansas County10,342Johnson County: 8,512 jobsJohnson County8,512Ouachita County: 8,230 jobsOuachita County8,230Clark County: 8,195 jobsClark County8,195Hot Spring County: 8,122 jobsHot Spring County8,122Columbia County: 7,917 jobsColumbia County7,917Hempstead County: 7,805 jobsHempstead County7,805St. Francis County: 6,837 jobsSt. Francis County6,837Conway County: 6,826 jobsConway County6,826Howard County: 6,431 jobsHoward County6,431Yell County: 6,395 jobsYell County6,395Cleburne County: 6,325 jobsCleburne County6,325Drew County: 6,284 jobsDrew County6,284Randolph County: 5,934 jobsRandolph County5,934Polk County: 5,896 jobsPolk County5,896Ashley County: 5,801 jobsAshley County5,801Poinsett County: 5,283 jobsPoinsett County5,283Logan County: 5,153 jobsLogan County5,153Pulaski County: 251,364 jobsPulaski County251,364Benton County: 134,825 jobsBenton County134,825Washington County: 116,180 jobsWashington County116,180Sebastian County: 65,260 jobsSebastian County65,260Craighead County: 53,317 jobsCraighead County53,317Faulkner County: 42,730 jobsFaulkner County42,730Garland County: 37,775 jobsGarland County37,775Saline County: 26,247 jobsSaline County26,247Jefferson County: 25,838 jobsJefferson County25,838Pope County: 25,227 jobsPope County25,227White County: 25,120 jobsWhite County25,120Crawford County: 19,269 jobsCrawford County19,269Mississippi County: 17,176 jobsMississippi County17,176Independence County: 16,777 jobsIndependence County16,777Union County: 16,583 jobsUnion County16,583Crittenden County: 15,750 jobsCrittenden County15,750Greene County: 15,619 jobsGreene County15,619Baxter County: 15,561 jobsBaxter County15,561Lonoke County: 14,924 jobsLonoke County14,924Boone County: 14,453 jobsBoone County14,453Miller County: 12,260 jobsMiller County12,260Carroll County: 10,889 jobsCarroll County10,889Arkansas County: 10,342 jobsArkansas County10,342Johnson County: 8,512 jobsJohnson County8,512Ouachita County: 8,230 jobsOuachita County8,230Clark County: 8,195 jobsClark County8,195Hot Spring County: 8,122 jobsHot Spring County8,122Columbia County: 7,917 jobsColumbia County7,917Hempstead County: 7,805 jobsHempstead County7,805St. Francis County: 6,837 jobsSt. Francis County6,837Conway County: 6,826 jobsConway County6,826Howard County: 6,431 jobsHoward County6,431Yell County: 6,395 jobsYell County6,395Cleburne County: 6,325 jobsCleburne County6,325Drew County: 6,284 jobsDrew County6,284Randolph County: 5,934 jobsRandolph County5,934Polk County: 5,896 jobsPolk County5,896Ashley County: 5,801 jobsAshley County5,801Poinsett County: 5,283 jobsPoinsett County5,283Logan County: 5,153 jobsLogan County5,153
jobs. Source: BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2022
jobs		Change on 2021
1Pulaski County251,364+3.4%
2Benton County134,825+6.8%
3Washington County116,180+5%
4Sebastian County65,260+3.6%
5Craighead County53,317+2.7%
6Faulkner County42,730+3.9%
7Garland County37,775+3.4%
8Saline County26,247+4.7%
9Jefferson County25,838-0.5%
10Pope County25,227+3%
11White County25,120+2.4%
12Crawford County19,269+0.2%
13Mississippi County17,176+3.4%
14Independence County16,777+2.6%
15Union County16,583+0.9%
16Crittenden County15,750+4.5%
17Greene County15,619+3.1%
18Baxter County15,561+2.7%
19Lonoke County14,924+4.3%
20Boone County14,453+1.5%
21Miller County12,260+0.4%
22Carroll County10,889-0.5%
23Arkansas County10,342-0.4%
24Johnson County8,512+4.1%
25Ouachita County8,230+23.8%
26Clark County8,195-2.7%
27Hot Spring County8,122-2%
28Columbia County7,917+1.6%
29Hempstead County7,805+5.9%
30St. Francis County6,837+1.8%
31Conway County6,826+1.2%
32Howard County6,431-1.3%
33Yell County6,395+0.7%
34Cleburne County6,325+1%
35Drew County6,284+0.7%
36Randolph County5,934-0.3%
37Polk County5,896+3.6%
38Ashley County5,801+2.1%
39Poinsett County5,283+1.1%
40Logan County5,153-0.2%
41Jackson County5,115-0.8%
42Franklin County4,829+3.2%
43Sevier County4,797+2.8%
44Phillips County4,697-3.6%
45Cross County4,643+0.6%
46Desha County4,333+1.3%
47Grant County4,287+2.6%
48Lawrence County3,968+3.4%
49Van Buren County3,770+6.3%
50Sharp County3,706+6.8%
51Marion County3,599+5.9%
52Bradley County3,550-0.3%
53Madison County3,546+2.9%
54Little River County3,083+3.1%
55Clay County3,070-0.1%
56Scott County3,022+1.8%
57Chicot County2,826+1.7%
58Izard County2,797+2.9%
59Lincoln County2,684+2.1%
60Dallas County2,639-1.5%
61Stone County2,575+2.7%
62Pike County2,572-3%
63Fulton County2,154+2.6%
64Nevada County2,143-4.1%
65Calhoun County1,970-44.2%
66Woodruff County1,904+5%
67Monroe County1,852-2.3%
68Lee County1,708+3.9%
69Prairie County1,498+0.5%
70Searcy County1,452-6%
71Montgomery County1,218+0.7%
72Lafayette County1,075+0.9%
73Perry County1,060-5.6%
74Cleveland County989+2.2%
75Newton County985-0.4%

Other periods

About this ranking

Average number of jobs covered by unemployment insurance during the year, all industries, private and government, from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Counted where the job is located, from the reports employers file each quarter; monthly employment counts the jobs in the pay period that includes the 12th.

Counts jobs, not people: someone with two jobs counts twice. Covers about 95 percent of US wage and salary jobs. Excludes the self-employed, most agricultural workers on small farms, the armed forces, elected officials in most states, most railroad employees, some domestic workers and most student workers at schools. A count of employer reports, not a survey estimate like oews_employment.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2022/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2026). Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties (Counties in Arkansas by covered employment (QCEW), 2022) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2022/a/industry/10.csv

MLA 9

Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties, Counties in Arkansas by covered employment (QCEW), 2022. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 21 Aug. 2026, https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2022/a/industry/10.csv. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/arkansas-counties?period=2022. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2026. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Counties in Arkansas by covered employment (QCEW), 2022. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2022/a/industry/10.csv. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/arkansas-counties?period=2022.

Harvard

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026) Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties, Counties in Arkansas by covered employment (QCEW), 2022 [Dataset]. Available at: https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2022/a/industry/10.csv, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/arkansas-counties?period=2022 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{bureau_counties_in_arkansas_by_2022,
  author = {{U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics}},
  title = {{Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties: Counties in Arkansas by covered employment (QCEW), 2022}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2022/a/industry/10.csv},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/arkansas-counties?period=2022. Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2022/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
TI  - Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties: Counties in Arkansas by covered employment (QCEW), 2022
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/21
PB  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2022/a/industry/10.csv
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/arkansas-counties?period=2022
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/arkansas-counties?period=2022.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2022/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
Embed this chart

Paste this code into a web page or a blog post. The chart shows the latest figures as they are published, with the source and a link back to this page.

Sites that read oEmbed links, such as WordPress, can show the chart when you paste the link to this page.

Use this data in your AI agent

Invokely serves this figure to AI assistants through MCP and to code through a REST API, with the source and citation attached. Ask your assistant:

Rank Counties in Arkansas by covered employment (QCEW) using official data, and cite the source.
rank_places {"indicator":"covered_employment","level":"province","within":"Arkansas","limit":10}
GET https://invokely.ai/api/v1/rank?indicator=covered_employment&level=province&within=Arkansas&limit=10

Connect Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor in one step. The trial answers 25 calls a day without an account.

Questions

Which county has the highest covered employment (QCEW)?

Pulaski County, with 251,364 jobs in 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which county has the lowest covered employment (QCEW)?

Newton County, with 985 jobs in 2022.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Covered employment (QCEW): other rankings

Counties in Arkansas: more rankings