Area jobless rate 7.9% in November

The Fort Smith metro area jobless rate reached 7.9% in November, unchanged from an October unemployment rate that was revised up to 7.9% after initially posted as 7.8%.

Also, the Fort Smith area was one of three of Arkansas’ metro areas to see no change in the unemployment rate compared to October. Northwest Arkansas and Texarkana rates were also unchanged, with the other metro areas seeing increases.

Compared to November 2009, all metro areas except Memphis-West Memphis posted an unemployment rate increase in November 2010, according to stats released Tuesday (Jan. 4) by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The lowest metro rate in the state was Northwest Arkansas at 5.9%. The highest metro rate was 9.7% in Memphis-West Memphis.

Unemployment rates were higher in November than a year earlier in 182 of the 372
metropolitan areas, lower in 166 areas, and unchanged in 24 areas, noted the BLS report. Also, 13 metro areas had jobless rates of at least 15%, while 11 areas registered rates of less than 5%.

The U.S. unemployment rate in November was 9.8%, up from 9.6% in October and down from 10% in November 2009.

Arkansas’ November unemployment rate was 7.9%, up from 7.8% in October and up from 7.6% in November 2009. The Oklahoma rate during November was 6.9%, unchanged from October and up from 6.8% in November 2009.

The number of unemployed in the Fort Smith metro area was 10,415 in November, virtually unchanged from October 2010 and down 2.3% compared to November 2009. January 2009 marked the beginning of a high number of unemployed in the Fort Smith metro area that peaked with 11,937 in January 2010.

Total metro nonfarm payroll in November was 116,100, up from the 116,000 in October, and down 1.02% compared to November 2009.

Fort Smith’s manufacturing sector employed an estimated 21,200 in November, unchanged October, and down from the 21,500 employed in the sector in November 2009. Employment in the sector is down 30.9% from a decade ago when January 2001 manufacturing employment in the metro area stood at 30,700.

Jobs in the Trade, Transportation and Utilities sector — the region’s largest job sector —  totaled 23,500 in November, unchanged from October. The sector employed 24,100 in November 2009.

ARKANSAS METRO AREAS
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers
Nov. 2010: 5.9%
Nov. 2009: 5.5%
Oct. 2010: 5.9%

Fort Smith
Nov. 2010: 7.9%
Nov. 2009: 7.8%
Oct. 2010: 7.9%

Hot Springs
Nov. 2010: 7.5%
Nov. 2009: 7%
Oct. 2010: 7.3%

Jonesboro
Nov. 2010: 7%
Nov. 2009: 6.5%
Oct. 2010: 6.8%

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway
Nov. 2010: 6.6%
Nov. 2009: 6%
Oct. 2010: 6.5%

Memphis-West Memphis
Nov. 2010: 9.7%
Nov. 2009: 10.2%
Oct. 2010: 9.5%

Pine Bluff
Nov. 2010: 9.3%
Nov. 2009: 8.9%
Oct. 2010: 8.9%

Texarkana
Nov. 2010: 7.1%
Nov. 2009: 6.5%
Oct. 2010: 7.1%

FORT SMITH METRO AREA HISTORY
Past annual average unemployment rates
2009: 7.9%
2008: 4.8%
2007: 5.3%
2006: 4.9%
2005: 4.5%
2004: 5.2%
2003: 5.5%
2002: 5%
2001: 4.2%
2000: 3.7%