Jonesboro Business Leaders Talk Health Care, Manufacturing

Northeast Arkansas has experienced a "robust economic expansion" and "some optimism is in order," Michael Pakko, chief economist and state economic forecaster with the University of Arkansas-Little Rock's Institute for Economic Advancement, told business leaders Wednesday at the second annual Regional Economic Forecast in Jonesboro. About 160 people attended the event, which was organized by Arkansas Business Publishing Group of Little Rock and included panels on health care and manufacturing.  During his presentation, Pakko said the Jonesboro metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is third in the state in growth of gross domestic product. The MSA has also outpaced the state in personal income growth, and Jonesboro benefits from being a retail hub for the region, he said. The MSA's unemployment rate, at just over 3 percent, is better than both the state and the country. It is the second lowest unemployment rate in Arkansas, Pakko said. Pakko cautioned that unemployment is not necessarily a good indication of a healthy economy. He said the percentage of the population that is working or looking for a job has declined more than what retiring baby boomers would account for. Health Care, Manufacturing Arkansas Business Publisher Mitch Bettis moderated two panels on health care and manufacturing. Attendees heard from Chris Barber, president and CEO of St. Bernards Healthcare; Steve Spaulding, executive vice president and chief health management officer for BlueCross Bl...
Source: Arkansas Business - Health Care - Category: American Health Source Type: news