Arkansas metro jobless rates decline in November

November brought some welcome news on the job front, with all eight metro areas in or connected to Arkansas showing a jobless rate decline compared to October. Also, jobless rates in five of the metro areas were down compared to November 2010 and the remaining three were unchanged compared to November 2010.

The Fort Smith metro area jobless dipped to an estimated 7.8% in November, down from 7.9% during October, and unchanged compared to November 2010. Unfortunately, the number of employed in the region was also down compared to November 2010.

Jobless rates and data in Wednesday’s (Jan. 4) report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics are preliminary and subject to change.

During November, the lowest metro jobless rate was 5.5% in Northwest Arkansas and the highest rate was 9.3% in Pine Bluff. The number of unemployed in the Northwest Arkansas metro area during November was 12,520, down from the 13,375 during November 2010.

FORT SMITH METRO NUMBERS

The number of unemployed in the Fort Smith metro area was an estimated 10,241 in November, down from a revised 10,507 in October, and down compared the 10,518 unemployed in November 2010. The number of employed in the metro area during November was 121,828, just above the 121,740 employed in the area during October, but well below the 123,574 during November 2010.

The size of the metro workforce in November was 132,069, down from 132,247 in October and below the 134,092 in November 2010. The workforce is down from a June 2007 high of 140,542.

Fort Smith’s manufacturing sector employed an estimated 20,700 in November, up from a revised 20,600 in October, but down from 21,200 in November 2010. Employment in the sector is down more than 32% from more than 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 23,800 in November, unchanged from October, but down from 24,200 during November 2010. Employment in the sector is off from the high of 25,700 posted in December 2007.

Employment in the region’s tourism industry is on a four-month decline. November employment was an estimated 8,900, down from 9,000 during October, but up from 8,700 during November 2010. The sector reached an employment high of 9,800 in August 2008.

In Education & Health Services, employment was 16,000 during November, down from 16,200 during October and down from 16,200 during November 2010. This employment sector has proven somewhat resilient during the recession and the weak recovery. Peak employment in the sector of 16,400 was reached in May.

NATIONAL NUMBERS
Unemployment rates were lower in November than a year earlier in 351 of the 372 metropolitan areas, higher in 16 areas, and unchanged in 5 areas, noted the BLS report. Also, eight areas recorded jobless rates of at least 15%, while 25 areas registered rates of less than 5%.

ARKANSAS METRO AREAS
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers
Nov. 2011: 5.5%
Oct. 2011: 5.9%
Nov. 2010: 5.9%

Fort Smith
Nov. 2011: 7.8%
Oct. 2011: 7.9%
Nov. 2010: 7.8%

Hot Springs
Nov. 2011: 7%
Oct. 2011: 7.2%
Nov. 2010: 7.7%

Jonesboro
Nov. 2011: 6.4%
Oct. 2011: 6.8%
Nov. 2010: 7%

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway
Nov. 2011: 6.3%
Oct. 2011: 6.7%
Nov. 2010: 6.5%

Memphis-West Memphis
Nov. 2011: 9.2%
Oct. 2011: 9.4%
Nov. 2010: 9.3%

Pine Bluff
Nov. 2011: 9.3%
Oct. 2011: 9.4%
Nov. 2010: 9.3%

Texarkana
Nov. 2011: 6.9%
Oct. 2011: 7.4%
Nov. 2010: 7.1%

FORT SMITH METRO AREA HISTORY
Past annual average unemployment rates
2010: 8.2%
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%