Arkansas metro areas post job gains in December report

December jobless rates were lower or unchanged in most Arkansas metro areas compared with December 2023, and all of the eight metro areas in or connected to Arkansas had year-over-year job gains in December.

Northwest Arkansas had the lowest metro rate at 2.5% in December, with Pine Bluff posting the highest rate at 4.6%.

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 25,214 year-over-year job gains in December, which was 73% of Arkansas’ 34,626 gains in December. Arkansas’ jobless rate in December was 3.4%. The December numbers are preliminary and subject to revision.

Central Arkansas – Little Rock, North Little Rock, and Conway – had 366,959 employed in December, up 11,112 jobs, or 3.1%, compared with December 2023. The metro had 11,852 unemployed, down from 11,747 in December 2023. Northwest Arkansas, the state’s second largest metro area, had an estimated 313,171 jobs in December, up 9,966 jobs, or 3.3%, compared with December 2023. The metro had 8,103 unemployed, up from 7,682 in December 2023.

The Fort Smith metro, Arkansas’ third largest metro, had an estimated 117,640 jobs in December, up 1,561 jobs, or 1.3%, compared with December 2023. Regional employment remains well below the peak of 124,098 in July 2006. The metro had 4,096 unemployed, down from 4,546 in December 2023. The Jonesboro metro had an estimated 67,403 jobs in December, up 4% compared with December 2023. The metro had 2,114 unemployed, up from 1,981 in December 2023.

“Over the longer-run, Northwest Arkansas continues to lead the state in employment growth, followed by Central Arkansas and Jonesboro. Fort Smith, and Hot Springs have shown positive growth over the past five years, while employment in Memphis (Tenn.), Texarkana, and Pine Bluff remain lower than pre-pandemic levels,” said Dr. Michael Pakko, chief economist and state economic forecaster with the Arkansas Economic Development Institute.

NATIONAL NUMBERS
Unemployment rates were higher in December than a year earlier in 266 of the 389 metro areas, lower in 95 areas and unchanged in 28 areas, according to the BLS report. A total 85 areas had jobless rates of less than 3%, and eight areas had rates of at least 8%. Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 36 metro areas and was essentially unchanged in 353 areas. The U.S. unemployment rate in December was 3.8%, not seasonally adjusted, up from 3.5% a year earlier.

In December, Rapid City, S.D., had the lowest unemployment rate at 1.8%. The next lowest rates were in Sioux Falls, S.D., at 1.9%, and Ames, Iowa, at 2%. El Centro, Calif., had the highest rate at 17.8%. A total of 216 areas had December jobless rates below the U.S. rate of 3.8%, 163 areas had rates above it, and 10 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 2024: 321,274
December 2023: 310,887

Employment
December 2024: 313,171
December 2023: 303,205

Unemployed
December 2024: 8,103
December 2023: 7,682

Jobless rate
December 2024: 2.5%
December 2023: 2.5%

• Fort Smith metro (Arkansas-Oklahoma)
Labor force
December 2024: 121,736
December 2023: 120,625

Employment
December 2024: 117,640
December 2023: 116,079

Unemployed
December 2024: 4,096
December 2023: 4,546

Jobless rate
December 2024: 3.4%
December 2023: 3.8%

• Hot Springs
Labor force
December 2024: 41,847
December 2023: 41,192

Employment
December 2024: 40,297
December 2023: 39,637

Unemployed
December 2024: 1,550
December 2023: 1,555

Jobless rate
December 2024: 3.7%
December 2023: 3.8%

• Jonesboro
Labor force
December 2024: 69,517
December 2023: 66,809

Employment
December 2024: 67,403
December 2023: 64,828

Unemployed
December 2024: 2,114
December 2023: 1,981

Jobless rate
December 2024: 3%
December 2023: 3%

• Central Arkansas (Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway)
Labor force
December 2024: 378,811
December 2023: 367,594

Employment
December 2024: 366,959
December 2023: 355,847

Unemployed
December 2024: 11,852
December 2023: 11,747

Jobless rate
December 2024: 3.1%
December 2023: 3.2%

• Memphis/West Memphis (Tennessee-Arkansas)
Labor force
December 2024: 625,699
December 2023: 616,903

Employment
December 2024: 598,612
December 2023: 593,938

Unemployed
December 2024: 27,087
December 2023: 22,965

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

• Pine Bluff
Labor force
December 2024: 31,930
December 2023: 31,529

Employment
December 2024: 30,446
December 2023: 30,073

Unemployed
December 2024: 1,484
December 2023: 1,456

Jobless rate
December 2024: 4.6%
December 2023: 4.6%

• Texarkana (Arkansas-Texas)
Labor force
December 2024: 63,521
December 2023: 61,858

Employment
December 2024: 61,083
December 2023: 59,630

Unemployed
December 2024: 2,438
December 2023: 2,228

Jobless rate
December 2024: 3.8%
December 2023: 3.6%