November job numbers up in all Arkansas metro areas

As was the case in October, all eight of the metro areas in or connected to Arkansas had job gains in November. Northwest Arkansas had the lowest metro rate at 2.1% in November, with Pine Bluff posting the highest rate at 4.4%.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) jobs report shows that Arkansas’ four largest metro regions – areas with most of the workforce in the state – had a combined 19,253 year-over-year job gains in November, which was 57.1% of Arkansas’ 33,715 gains in November. Arkansas’ jobless rate in November was 3.3%. The November numbers are preliminary and subject to revision.

Central Arkansas – Little Rock, North Little Rock and Conway – had 366,163 employed in November, up 8,944 jobs, or 2.5%, with November 2023. The metro had 10,972 unemployed, down from 10,990 in November 2023. Northwest Arkansas, the state’s second largest metro area, had an estimated 313,735 jobs in November, up 7,486 jobs, or 2.4%, compared with November 2023. The metro had 7,482 unemployed, up from 7,329 in November 2023.

The Fort Smith metro, Arkansas’ third largest metro, had an estimated 117,753 jobs in November, up 926 jobs, or 0.8%, compared with November 2023. Regional employment remains well below the peak of 124,098 in July 2006. The metro had 3,881 unemployed, down from 4,427 in November 2023. The Jonesboro metro had an estimated 67,271 jobs in November, up 2.9% compared with November 2023. The metro had 1,950 unemployed, up from 1,857 in November 2023.

NATIONAL NUMBERS
Unemployment rates were higher in November than a year earlier in 308 of the 389 metro areas, lower in 60 areas, and unchanged in 21. A total of 65 areas had jobless rates of less than 3% and 6 areas had rates of at least 8%. Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 32 metro areas and was essentially unchanged in 357 areas. The U.S. unemployment rate in November was 4%, not seasonally adjusted, up from 3.5% a year earlier.

In November, Sioux Falls, S.D., had the lowest unemployment rate at 1.5%. The next lowest rate was in Rapid City, S.D., at 1.7%. El Centro, Calif., had the highest rate at 19%. A total of 224 areas had November jobless rates below the U.S. rate of 4%, 152 areas had rates above it, and 13 areas had rates equal to that of the nation.

The largest over-the-year unemployment rate increases in November occurred in Asheville, N.C., up 3.4 percentage points, and Kokomo, Ind., up 3.2 percentage points.

METRO JOBS DATA
Following are labor market data for the eight metro areas.
• Northwest Arkansas
Labor force
November 2024: 321,217
November 2023: 313,578

Employment
November 2024: 313,735
November 2023: 306,249

Unemployed
November 2024: 7,482
November 2023: 7,329

Jobless rate
November 2024: 2.3%
November 2023: 2.3%

• Fort Smith metro (Arkansas-Oklahoma)
Labor force
November 2024: 121,634
November 2023: 121,254

Employment
November 2024: 117,753
November 2023: 116,827

Unemployed
November 2024: 3,881
November 2023: 4,427

Jobless rate
November 2024: 3.2%
November 2023: 3.7%

• Hot Springs
Labor force
November 2024: 41,619
November 2023: 41,321

Employment
November 2024: 40,207
November 2023: 39,864

Unemployed
November 2024: 1,412
November 2023: 1,457

Jobless rate
November 2024: 3.4%
November 2023: 3.5%

• Jonesboro
Labor force
November 2024: 69,221
November 2023: 67,231

Employment
November 2024: 67,271
November 2023: 65,374

Unemployed
November 2024: 1,950
November 2023: 1,857

Jobless rate
November 2024: 2.8%
November 2023: 2.8%

• Central Arkansas (Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway)
Labor force
November 2024: 377,135
November 2023: 368,209

Employment
November 2024: 366,163
November 2023: 357,219

Unemployed
November 2024: 10,972
November 2023: 10,990

Jobless rate
November 2024: 2.9%
November 2023: 3%

• Memphis/West Memphis (Tennessee-Arkansas)
Labor force
November 2024: 626,320
November 2023: 617,394

Employment
November 2024: 599,406
November 2023: 594,440

Unemployed
November 2024: 26,914
November 2023: 22,954

Jobless rate
November 2024: 4.3%
November 2023: 3.7%

• Pine Bluff
Labor force
November 2024: 31,985
November 2023: 31,783

Employment
November 2024: 30,566
November 2023: 30,423

Unemployed
November 2024: 1,419
November 2023: 1,360

Jobless rate
November 2024: 4.4%
November 2023: 4.3%

• Texarkana (Arkansas-Texas)
Labor force
November 2024: 63,679
November 2023: 62,419

Employment
November 2024: 61,087
November 2023: 60,213

Unemployed
November 2024: 2,592
November 2023: 2,206

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