Fort Smith area jobless rate stays at 7.7% in June

There was a percentage gain in the number of employed during June in the Fort Smith region, but the percentage gain for the unemployed was higher.

The jobless rate in the metro area during June was 7.7%, unchanged from May, but up from 7.6% in June 2012, according to figures released Wednesday (July 30) by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. June was the 54th consecutive month the Fort Smith metro jobless rate has been at or above 7%.

Six of the eight metro areas in or connected to Arkansas had jobless rate increases in June compared to May, and four areas had jobless rate increases compared to June 2012.

During June, the lowest metro jobless rate in the state was in Northwest Arkansas with 5.7% and the highest rate was 10.1% in the Pine Bluff area.

FORT SMITH METRO NUMBERS
The size of the Fort Smith regional workforce during June was 135,960, up 1.33% from the 133,837 during May, and above the 134,169 during June 2012. The regional labor force consistently remained above 130,000 beginning in May 2004, but fell below 130,000 in June. The labor force reached a high of 139,544 in June 2008.

The number of employed during June rose to 125,482, an improvement over the 123,567 in May, and better than the 123,939 in June 2012.

Following are other key figures from the BLS metro report.
• Unemployed persons in the region totaled an estimated 10,478 during June, more than the 10,270 during May, and more than the 10,230 during June 2012.

• The Fort Smith area manufacturing sector employed an estimated 18,500 in June, down from the 18,600 in May, and below the 19,300 during June 2012. Employment in the sector is down more than 34% from a decade ago when June 2003 manufacturing employment in the metro area stood at 28,100. Also, the annual average monthly employment in manufacturing has fallen from 28,900 in 2005 to 19,200 in 2012 – the first year the average has dropped below 20,000 since surpassing that level.

• Jobs in the Trade, Transportation and Utilities sector — the region’s largest job sector —  totaled 25,800 in June, up from 25,400 in May, and above the 24,000 during June 2012. Employment in the sector is off from a high of 25,700 posted in December 2007.

• Employment in the region’s tourism industry was 9,600 during June, up from 9,400 in May and above the 9,200 in June 2012. The sector reached an employment high of 9,800 in August 2008.

• In Education & Health Services, employment was 18,000 during June, up from 17,700 in May and above the 17,000 during June 2012. The June estimate is a record for sector employment in the Fort Smith area. The annual average monthly employment in the sector has steadily grown since 2005 when it reached 14,000. In 2012 the average was 17,100.

• In the Government sector, employment was 18,900 during June, down from 19,900 in May and unchanged compared to June 2012.

NATIONAL NUMBERS
Unemployment rates were lower in June than a year earlier in 272 of the 372 metropolitan areas, higher in 73 areas, and unchanged in 27 areas, noted the broad BLS report.

The U.S. unemployment rate in June was 7.6%, down from 8.2% from a year earlier. Arkansas’ jobless rate was 7.3% in June, unchanged from 7.3% in May and unchanged compared to in June 2012.

Oklahoma’s jobless rate during June was 5.2%, up from 5.1% in June, and unchanged compared to June 2012. The Missouri jobless rate during June was 6.9%, compared to 6.8% in May and down from 7% during June 2012.

ARKANSAS METRO AREAS
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers
June 2013: 5.7%
May 2013: 5.6%
June 2012: 5.9%

Fort Smith
June 2013: 7.7%
May 2013: 7.7%
June 2012: 7.6%

Hot Springs
June 2013: 7.7%
May 2013: 7.7%
June 2012: 7.7%

Jonesboro
June 2013: 7.2%
May 2013: 6.9%
June 2012: 7.2%

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway
June 2013: 6.7%
May 2013: 6.6%
June 2012: 6.8%

Memphis-West Memphis
June 2013: 10%
May 2013: 9.6%
June 2012: 9.5%

Pine Bluff
June 2013: 10.1%
May 2013: 9.6%
June 2012: 9.5%

Texarkana
June 2013: 7.3%
May 2013: 7.1%
June 2012: 7.1%

FORT SMITH METRO AREA HISTORY
Past annual average unemployment rates
2012: 7.7%
2011: 8.6%
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%