All seven of the metro areas in or connected to Arkansas posted nonfarm job gains in June, with Northwest Arkansas leading the group with a 3.65% gain between June 2024 and June 2025. However, the jobless rate was up in six of the seven metro areas.
The Memphis-West Memphis area had the highest jobless rate at 4.9%, and Northwest Arkansas had the lowest rate in June at 3.4%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) jobs report posted Wednesday (July 30). The June report is preliminary and subject to revision.
The state’s jobless rate held at 3.7%, up from 3.4% in June 2024. June was the fourth consecutive month the jobless rate was 3.7%.
Arkansas’ four largest metro regions – areas with most of the workforce in the state – had a combined 21,200 year-over-year nonfarm job gains in June, more than the 17,600 overall state confirm job gains in June.
Central Arkansas – Little Rock, North Little Rock and Conway – had 403,000 nonfarm jobs in June, up 7,400 jobs, or 1.87%, compared with June 2024. The metro had 15,134 unemployed, up from 13,558 in June 2024. Northwest Arkansas, the state’s second largest metro area, had an estimated 314,600 nonfarm jobs in June, up 11,100 jobs, or 3.65%, compared with June 2024. The metro had 10,703 unemployed, up from 9,242 in June 2024.
The Fort Smith metro, Arkansas’ third largest metro, had an estimated 104,400 nonfarm jobs in June, up 1,700 jobs, or 1.65%, compared with June 2024. Regional employment remains below the peak of 108,800 in November 2007. The metro had 4,166 unemployed, up from 3,862 in June 2024. The Jonesboro metro had an estimated 65,600 nonfarm jobs in June, up 1.55% compared with June 2024. The metro had 2,783 unemployed, up from 2,354 in June 2024.
The 2025 numbers reflect significant revisions to the data and counties included in the estimates. McDonald County, Mo., was removed from the Northwest Arkansas metro, LeFlore County, Okla., was removed from the Fort Smith metro, and Pine Bluff is no longer reported as a metropolitan statistical area.
NATIONAL NUMBERS
Unemployment rates were higher in June than a year earlier in 217 of the 387 metro areas, lower in 147 areas, and unchanged in 23 areas, according to the BLS report. A total of 27 areas had jobless rates of less than 3% and 9 areas had rates of at least 8%.
Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 30 metro areas and was essentially unchanged in 357 areas. The national unemployment rate in June was 4.1%, unchanged from June 2024. In June, Sioux Falls, S.D.-Minn., had the lowest unemployment rate at 1.8%, followed by Rapid City, S.D., at 1.9%. El Centro, Calif., had the highest rate at 18.9%.
METRO JOBS DATA
Following are labor market data for the seven metro areas.
• Northwest Arkansas
Labor force
June 2025: 316,884
June 2024: 306,813
Nonfarm Employment
June 2025: 314,600
June 2024: 303,500
Unemployed
June 2025: 10,703
June 2024: 9,242
Jobless rate
June 2025: 3.4%
June 2024: 3%
• Fort Smith metro (Arkansas-Oklahoma)
Labor force
June 2025: 103,388
June 2024: 102,372
Nonfarm Employment
June 2025: 104,400
June 2024: 102,700
Unemployed
June 2025: 4,166
June 2024: 3,862
Jobless rate
June 2025: 4%
June 2024: 3.8%
• Hot Springs
Labor force
June 2025: 44,239
June 2024: 44,070
Nonfarm Employment
June 2025: 41,000
June 2024: 40,700
Unemployed
June 2025: 1,937
June 2024: 1,774
Jobless rate
June 2025: 4.4%
June 2024: 4%
• Jonesboro
Labor force
June 2025: 67,931
June 2024: 66,980
Nonfarm Employment
June 2025: 65,600
June 2024: 64,600
Unemployed
June 2025: 2,783
June 2024: 2,354
Jobless rate
June 2025: 4.1%
June 2024: 3.5%
• Central Arkansas (Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway)
Labor force
June 2025: 389,876
June 2024: 384,084
Nonfarm Employment
June 2025: 403,000
June 2024: 395,600
Unemployed
June 2025: 15,134
June 2024: 13,558
Jobless rate
June 2025: 3.9%
June 2024: 3.5%
• Memphis/West Memphis (Tennessee-Arkansas)
Labor force
June 2025: 632,288
June 2024: 627,046
Nonfarm Employment
June 2025: 658,400
June 2024: 654,400
Unemployed
June 2025: 31,190
June 2024: 29,130
Jobless rate
June 2025: 4.9%
June 2024: 4.7%
• Texarkana (Arkansas-Texas)
Labor force
June 2025: 63,174
June 2024: 62,655
Nonfarm Employment
June 2025: 61,600
June 2024: 60,900
Unemployed
June 2025: 2,686
June 2024: 2,813
Jobless rate
June 2025: 4.3%
June 2024: 4.5%