The Conway Area Chamber of Commerce partners with other organizations to improve the lives of local residents. (Conway Area Chamber of Commerce)
A growing community
Faulkner County: In March 2024, the Census Bureau announced that Faulkner County grew 1.9% in 2023. That was the second-fastest rate in Arkansas (Benton 2.7%, Washington 1.9%).
Conway: In May 2023, the Census Bureau announced that Conway had grown 2.5% in 2022. That was the fastest growth rate in Arkansas (Rogers 2.2%, Fayetteville 2%).
Faulkner County Major Industries
Industries | Jobs | % |
Health care and social assistance | 7,863 | fifteen% |
Government | 7,591 | fifteen% |
Retail trade | 6,612 | 13% |
Accommodation and Food Services | 5,516 | eleven% |
Construction | 4,393 | 9% |
Manufacturing | 3,284 | 6% |
Other Services (except Public Administration) | 2,890 | 6% |
Administrative Services, Support, Waste Management, Remediation | 2,600 | 5% |
Services professionals, scientists and technicals | 1,687 | 3% |
Information | 1,623 | 3% |
Total | 50,963 |
Educated workforce
Conway, known as the City of Universities, is home to three institutions of higher education, all of which have been in the city since the late 19th century and produce graduates who remain in the area and enter the workforce.
25 years or older have a bachelor’s degree or higher (national average: 34.3%)
High school graduation rate (national average: 89.1%)
A diverse and growing economy
From 2018 to 2023, employment increased by 6.2% in Faulkner County, going from 47,969 to 50,963. This change exceeded the national growth rate of 3.6% by 2.6%. As the number of jobs increased, the labor force participation rate increased from 61.4% to 63%. Arkansas’ labor force participation rate is 57.4%.
Recognitions
• In February, Conway received the award Bike Friendly Silver designation from the League of American Bicyclists. This makes Conway the most bike-friendly city in central Arkansas and one of only three cities in the state with Gold or Silver designation.
• In 2023, Kiplinger’s Financial ranked Conway as the #8 “most affordable” city in the U.S.
The largest employers
- Conway Regional Health System: 1,760
- University of Central Arkansas: 1,600
- Acxiom – 1,500
- Conway Public School District: 1,249
- Conway Human Development Center – 900
- Walmart—825
- Virco—600
- Baptist Health-Conway Medical Center — 584
- Nabholz—550
- City of Conway – 550
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