Job growth in central Arkansas has lagged behind that for the nation as a whole since 2010-11, though it’s starting to catch up, according to Metroplan, the planning agency for Pulaski, Faulkner, Saline, Lonoke and Grant counties.

“When the U.S. economy was growing jobs at nearly two percent annually from 2010 through 2015, the Little Rock region averaged barely over one-half percent annually. Lately, as U.S. job growth has slowed, the local region has picked up some. Preliminary 2018 figures suggest about 1.2 percent growth locally, not far below the national pace around 1.5 percent,” said the Metroplan report, “Metro Trends: Economic Review and Outlook,” released in December.