April job numbers set records in Arkansas’ top two metro areas

The central Arkansas and Northwest Arkansas regions posted record April job numbers, with job numbers up in five of the eight metro areas in or including parts of Arkansas. Central Arkansas and Northwest Arkansas also posted April jobless rates below 3%.

April jobless rates ranged from 2.3% in Northwest Arkansas to 4.1% in the Pine Bluff metro, according to data posted Wednesday (May 29) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The April report is preliminary and subject to revisions.

Arkansas’ four largest metro regions – areas with most of the workforce in the state – had a combined 19,242 year-over-year job gains in April, well above the Arkansas’ 6,594 job gains. The metro tally above the state number shows job growth primarily in the state’s larger urban areas.

Central Arkansas – Little Rock, North Little Rock and Conway – had 364,102 employed in April, up 8,372 jobs, or 2.1%, from the 355,730 in April 2023. The April number marks a new record for employment in the state’s largest metro area. The metro had 11,014 unemployed, up from 8,768 in April 2023.

Northwest Arkansas, the state’s second largest metro area, had an estimated 312,996 jobs in April, up 8,682 jobs, or 2.9%, from the 304,314 in April 2023. The April number is a record for metro employment. The metro had 7,293 unemployed, up from 5,963 in April 2023.

The Fort Smith metro, Arkansas’ third largest metro, had an estimated 117,545 jobs in April, up 1,661 jobs, or 1.4%, from 115,884 in April 2023. Regional employment remains well below the peak of 124,098 in June 2006. The metro had 3,995 unemployed, up from 3,068 in April 2023.

The Jonesboro metro had an estimated 66,354 jobs in April, up 0.8% compared with the 65,827 in April 2023. The metro posted record employment of 66,447 in July 2023. The metro had 1,833 unemployed, up from 1,465 in April 2023.

NATIONAL NUMBERS
Unemployment rates were higher in April than a year earlier in 305 of the 389 metro areas, lower in 56 areas, and unchanged in 28 areas. A total of 134 areas had jobless rates of less than 3% percent and 10 areas had rates of at least 8% percent.

Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 49 metro areas, decreased in 2 areas, and was essentially unchanged in 338 areas. The U.S. jobless rate in April was 3.5%, not seasonally adjusted, up from 3.1% a year earlier.

In April, Ames, Iowa, Hattiesburg, Miss., and Jackson, Miss., had the lowest unemployment rates at 1.6% each. The next lowest rates were in Burlington-South Burlington, Vt., and Iowa City, Iowa, at 1.7% each. El Centro, Calif., had the highest rate at 15.7%. A total of 217 areas had April jobless rates below the U.S. rate of 3.5%, 156 areas had rates above it, and 16 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
April 2024: 320,289
April 2023: 310,277

Employment
April 2024: 312,996
April 2023: 304,314

Unemployed
April 2024: 7,293
April 2023: 5,968

Jobless rate
April 2024: 2.3%
April 2023: 1.9%

• Fort Smith metro (Arkansas-Oklahoma)
Labor force
April 2024: 121,540
April 2023: 118,952

Employment
April 2024: 117,545
April 2023: 115,884

Unemployed
April 2024: 3,995
April 2023: 3,068

Jobless rate
April 2024: 3.3%
April 2023: 2.6%

• Hot Springs
Labor force
April 2024: 41,782
April 2023: 41,955

Employment
April 2024: 40,350
April 2023: 40,706

Unemployed
April 2024: 1,432
April 2023: 1,249

Jobless rate
April 2024: 3.4%
April 2023: 3%

• Jonesboro
Labor force
April 2024: 68,187
April 2023: 67,292

Employment
April 2024: 66,354
April 2023: 65,827

Unemployed
April 2024: 1,833
April 2023: 1,465

Jobless rate
April 2024: 2.7%
April 2023: 2.2%

• Central Arkansas
Labor force
April 2024: 375,116
April 2023: 364,498

Employment
April 2024: 364,102
April 2023: 355,730

Unemployed
April 2024: 11,014
April 2023: 8,768

Jobless rate
April 2024: 2.9%
April 2023: 2.4%

• Memphis/West Memphis
Labor force
April 2024: 622,534
April 2023: 624,453

Employment
April 2024: 602,142
April 2023: 603,656

Unemployed
April 2024: 20,392
April 2023: 20,797

Jobless rate
April 2024: 3.3%
April 2023: 3.3%

• Pine Bluff
Labor force
April 2024: 32,082
April 2023: 32,328

Employment
April 2024: 30,755
April 2023: 31,197

Unemployed
April 2024: 1,327
April 2023: 1,131

Jobless rate
April 2024: 4.1%
April 2023: 3.5%

• Texarkana (Arkansas-Texas)
Labor force
April 2024: 62,700
April 2023: 62,378

Employment
April 2024: 60,370
April 2023: 60,186

Unemployed
April 2024: 2,330
April 2023: 2,192

Jobless rate
April 2024: 3.7%
April 2023: 3.5%