According to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, in an evaluation of neighboring state capital cities and peer regional markets, the Little Rock metro ranks second in five-year gross domestic product (GDP) growth percentage. The cities selected for the evaluation include capital cities from states neighboring Arkansas as well as regional markets with similar populations.
Gross domestic product - a common metric used to evaluate the strength of economies - is defined as the total market value of the final goods and services produced within a specific location. GDP is used to compare the strength of specific economies to others and is often correlated to the pace of economic growth, job creation, and business investment.
● Nashville, TN - 33.12%
● Little Rock, AR- 25.92%
● Kansas City, MO - 25.22%
● Birmingham, AL - 24.90%
● Memphis, TN - 24.42%
● Jackson, MS - 23.75%
● Montgomery, AL- 22.86%
● Shreveport, LA - 21.85%
● Oklahoma City, OK - 20.00%
● Tulsa, OK - 18.83%
● Baton Rouge, LA - 15.37%
Over the last five years, employment in the Little Rock region has increased by 7.53% and 27,893 more people are working currently than five years ago (Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Additionally, companies such as Amazon, Dassault Falcon Jet, Elopak, Faymonville Group, Lexicon, Trex, and Welspun are underway on major investments in Little Rock. This comes at a time when officials have recently certified the region’s first megasite with aspirations to attract a generational economic development project with significant supplier impact and downstream job creation.
About the Little Rock Regional Chamber
The Little Rock Regional Chamber is the principal business-driven leadership organization responsible for fostering the economic growth and development of the Little Rock region to ensure that business and industry may operate profitably and enhance the earning opportunities and quality of life for every citizen