Year-over-year job gains continue in most of the seven metro areas in or connected to Arkansas, but the metros also are seeing a rise in the number of unemployed, which has pushed the jobless rates higher in all but one of the metros.
Jobless rates in the seven metro areas ranged from a low of 3.3% in Northwest Arkansas and a high of 5.4% in the Memphis-West Memphis metro, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) jobs report posted Wednesday (Aug. 27). The July report is preliminary and subject to revision.
The state’s jobless rate held at 3.7%, up from 3.4% in July 2024. Arkansas’ four largest metro regions – areas with most of the workforce in the state – had a combined 20,300 year-over-year nonfarm job gains in July, or 77.7% of the 26,100 state nonfarm job gains in July. The estimated number of unemployed in Arkansas was 53,049, up 9.8% compared with July 2024.
Central Arkansas – Little Rock, North Little Rock and Conway – had 401,300 nonfarm jobs in July, up 8,300 jobs, or 2.1%, compared with July 2024. The metro had 15,746 unemployed, up from 14,425 in July 2024. Northwest Arkansas, the state’s second largest metro area, had an estimated 313,100 nonfarm jobs in July, up 10,500 jobs, or 3.46%, compared with July 2024. The metro had 10,738 unemployed, up from 9,800 in July 2024.
The Fort Smith metro, Arkansas’ third largest metro, had an estimated 102,400 nonfarm jobs in July, up 400 jobs, or 0.4%, compared with July 2024. Regional employment remains below the peak of 108,800 in November 2007. The metro had 4,222 unemployed, up from 4,006 in July 2024. The Jonesboro metro had an estimated 65,300 nonfarm jobs in July, up 1,100 jobs, or 1.7%, compared with July 2024. The metro had 2,850 unemployed, up from 2,786 in July 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 July than a year earlier in 190 of the 387 metro areas, lower in 170 areas, and unchanged in 27 areas, according to the BLS report. A total of 31 areas had jobless rates of less than 3% and 10 areas had rates of at least 8%. Nonfarm payroll jobs increased over the year in 34 metro areas and was essentially unchanged in 353 areas.
In July, Rapid City, S.D., and Sioux Falls, S.D.-Minn., had the lowest unemployment rates at 1.7% each. El Centro, Calif., had the highest rate at 20.2%. A total of 239 areas had July jobless rates below the U.S. rate of 4.6%, 139 areas had rates above it, and 9 areas had rates equal to that of the nation.
METRO JOBS DATA
Following are labor market data for seven metro areas.
• Northwest Arkansas
Nonfarm Employment
July 2025: 313,100
July 2024: 302,600
Unemployed
July 2025: 10,738
July 2024: 9,800
Jobless rate
July 2025: 3.3%
July 2024: 3.1%
• Fort Smith metro (Arkansas-Oklahoma)
Nonfarm Employment
July 2025: 102,400
July 2024: 102,00
Unemployed
July 2025: 4,222
July 2024: 4,006
Jobless rate
July 2025: 4.1%
July 2024: 3.9%
• Hot Springs
Nonfarm Employment
July 2025: 40,600
July 2024: 40,600
Unemployed
July 2025: 1,976
July 2024: 1,826
Jobless rate
July 2025: 4.4%
July 2024: 4.1%
• Jonesboro
Nonfarm Employment
July 2025: 65,300
July 2024: 64,200
Unemployed
July 2025: 2,850
July 2024: 2,786
Jobless rate
July 2025: 4.1%
July 2024: 3.7%
• Central Arkansas (Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway)
Nonfarm Employment
July 2025: 401,300
July 2024: 393,000
Unemployed
July 2025: 15,746
July 2024: 14,425
Jobless rate
July 2025: 4%
July 2024: 3.7%
• Memphis/West Memphis (Tennessee-Arkansas)
Nonfarm Employment
July 2025: 654,500
July 2024: 653,400
Unemployed
July 2025: 34,389
July 2024: 30,566
Jobless rate
July 2025: 5.4%
July 2024: 4.6%
• Texarkana (Arkansas-Texas)
Nonfarm Employment
July 2025: 61,100
July 2024: 60,400
Unemployed
July 2025: 2,820
July 2024: 2,860
Jobless rate
July 2025: 4.5%
July 2024: 4.5%