Average Fort Smith metro job numbers up almost 2% through March

The average monthly job number in the Fort Smith metro through March is 115,857, up 1.76% compared with 113,845 during the same period in 2023. Gains in the Education and Health Services and the Manufacturing sectors helped push job numbers higher.

Metro jobs totaled 116,642 in March, up from 115,042 in March 2023, with the metro jobless rate rising from 3% in March 2023 to 3.5% in March, according to recent figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The March numbers are preliminary and subject to revision.

The region’s available labor force was an estimated 120,900 in March, up from 118,635 in March 2023. The number of unemployed was 4,258 in March, up 18.5% compared with the 3,593 in March 2023.

Average annual employment for the metro set a record of 121,995 in 2007, and fell to a pre-COVID low of 112,881 in 2013. Average annual employment was 110,015 in 2020, the lowest level since 1996.

Following are the top six sectors in the Fort Smith metro in terms of employment.

Trade, Transportation & Utilities
March 2024: 24,000
March 2023: 24,000
The sector set a record of 24,800 in December 2023.

Manufacturing
March 2024: 19,100
March 2023: 18,700
The sector set a record of 31,200 in June 1999

Education & Health Services
March 2024: 19,100
March 2023: 18,300
Record employment of 19,100 was first set in February.

Government
March 2024: 17,000
March 2023: 17,000
The sector set a record of 18,900 in May 2017.

Professional & Business Services
March 2024: 11,800
March 2023: 11,700
The sector set a record of 13,600 in April 2018.

Leisure & Hospitality
March 2024: 10,100
March 2023: 9,900
The sector set a record of 10,300 in May 2023.