Job numbers continue to be positive in most Arkansas metro areas

Jobless rates remain low in all of the eight metro areas within or including parts of Arkansas, but six showed rate increases in December compared with December 2021, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

December jobless rates ranged from 2% in Northwest Arkansas to 4.6% in the Pine Bluff metro. The December report is preliminary and subject to revisions.

Arkansas’ four largest metro regions – areas with most of the workforce in the state – accounted for 52.5% the state’s 15,873 year-over-year job gains in December, with the Northwest Arkansas metro accounting for almost 25% of the increase.

Central Arkansas – Little Rock, North Little Rock and Conway – had 343,843 employed in December, up 2,721 jobs, from the 341,122 in December 2021. The region’s jobless rate was 2.8% in December, above the 2.7% in December 2021.

Northwest Arkansas, the state’s second largest metro area, had an estimated 288,680 jobs in December, up 3,944 jobs from the 284,736 in December 2021. The region’s jobless rate was 2% in December, above the 1.9% in December 2021.

The Fort Smith metro, Arkansas’ third largest metro, had an estimated 112,650 jobs in December, up 998 jobs from 112,821 in December 2021. The region’s jobless rate was 2.7% in December, above the 2.5% in December 2021. Regional employment remains well below the peak of 124,098 in June 2006.

The Jonesboro metro had an estimated 65,001 jobs in December, up 672 jobs from 112,821 in December 2021. The region’s jobless rate was 2.4% in December, above the 2.1% in December 2021.

NATIONAL NUMBERS
Unemployment rates were lower in December than a year earlier in 244 of the 389 metro areas, higher in 115 areas, and unchanged in 30 areas, according to the BLS. A total of 172 areas had jobless rates of less than 3% and 2 areas had rates of at least 10%. Nonfarm payroll jobs increased over the year in 81 metropolitan areas and was essentially unchanged in 308 areas. The national unemployment rate in December was 3.3%, not seasonally adjusted, down from 3.7% a year earlier.

In December, Madison, Wisc., had the lowest unemployment rate at 1.6%, closely followed by Columbia, Mo., at 1.7%. El Centro, Calif., had the highest rate at 14.8%. The next highest rate was in Yuma, Ariz., at 13.7%. A total of 227 areas had December jobless rates below the U.S. rate of 3.3%, 148 areas had rates above it, and 14 areas had rates equal to that of the nation.

METRO JOBS DATA
Following are labor market data for the eight metro areas.
• Northwest Arkansas
Labor force
December 2022: 294,714
December 2021: 290,164

Employment
December 2022: 288,680
December 2021: 284,736
March 2020 (pre-pandemic): 279,486

Unemployed
December 2022: 6,034
December 2021: 5,428

Jobless rate
December 2022: 2%
December 2021: 1.9%

• Fort Smith metro (Arkansas-Oklahoma)
Labor force
December 2022: 117,021
December 2021: 115,747

Employment
December 2022: 113,819
December 2021: 112,821
March 2020 (pre-pandemic): 112,650

Unemployed
December 2022: 3,202
December 2021: 2,926

Jobless rate
December 2022: 2.7%
December 2021: 2.5%

• Hot Springs
Labor force
December 2022: 40,743
December 2021: 39,935

Employment
December 2022: 39,301
December 2021: 38,612
March 2020 (pre-pandemic): 40,128

Unemployed
December 2022: 1,442
December 2021: 1,323

Jobless rate
December 2022: 3.5%
December 2021: 3.3%

• Jonesboro
Labor force
December 2022: 66,598
December 2021: 65,736

Employment
December 2022: 65,001
December 2021: 64,329
March 2020 (pre-pandemic): 64,348

Unemployed
December 2022: 1,597
December 2021: 1,407

Jobless rate
December 2022: 2.4%
December 2021: 2.1%

• Central Arkansas
Labor force
December 2022: 353,640
December 2021: 350,674

Employment
December 2022: 343,843
December 2021: 341,122
March 2020 (pre-pandemic): 343,937

Unemployed
December 2022: 9,797
December 2021: 9,552

Jobless rate
December 2022: 2.8%
December 2021: 2.7%

• Memphis/West Memphis (Arkansas-Mississippi-Tennessee)
Labor force
December 2022: 629,481
December 2021: 646,075

Employment
December 2022: 606,236
December 2021: 618,993
March 2020 (pre-pandemic): 605,300

Unemployed
December 2022: 23,245
December 2021: 27,082

Jobless rate
December 2022: 4.6%
December 2021: 4.5%

• Pine Bluff
Labor force
December 2022: 32,759
December 2021: 32,566

Employment
December 2022: 31,242
December 2021: 31,084
March 2020 (pre-pandemic): 32,283

Unemployed
December 2022: 2.332
December 2021: 2,660

Jobless rate
December 2022: 3.6%
December 2021: 4.2%

• Texarkana (Arkansas-Texas)
Labor force
December 2022: 63,958
December 2021: 63,692

Employment
December 2022: 61,626
December 2021: 61,032
March 2020 (pre-pandemic): 60,079

Unemployed
December 2022: 2,332
December 2021: 2,660

Jobless rate
December 2022: 3.6%
December 2021: 4.2%