EMPLOYMENT UP IN ARK.

A recent report from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. showed that employment in Ar-kansas is at a high point–about 1.2 million–but warned that hurricane refugees could strain state services.

FDIC’s Arkansas profile for Fall 2005 said growth in service industries helped push employment levels up, despite a weak manufacturing sector, which lost 1,600 jobs in the first half of the year.

According to the Associated Press, the report said an expanding economy led previously discouraged workers to re-enter the work force and that only Drew County reported a drop in its civilian labor force. Although the state is enjoying a $100 million budget surplus, which will likely benefit state government services, the report said the estimated 50,000 to 100,000 people who came to Arkansas after hurricanes Katrina and Rita could strain both government and private aid service providers.