January job numbers up in most Arkansas metro areas

Five of the seven metro areas in or connected to Arkansas had year-over-year job gains in January, and five had jobless rates at or below 4%. Only the Jonesboro and Texarkana metro areas had net job declines in January.

Northwest Arkansas had the lowest January metro rate at 3%, with the Memphis-West Memphis metro posting the highest rate at 4.5%.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) jobs report posted Friday (March 21) shows that Arkansas’ four largest metro regions — areas with most of the workforce in the state — had a combined 18,370 year-over-year job gains in January, which was a significant part of Arkansas’ 19,791 net job gain in January. Arkansas’ jobless rate in January was 3.6%, up from 3.4% in January 2024. The January numbers are preliminary and subject to revision.

Central Arkansas — Little Rock, North Little Rock and Conway — had 367,509 employed in January, up 11,482 jobs, or 3.2%, compared with January 2024. The metro had 13,604 unemployed, up from 13,033 in January 2024. Northwest Arkansas, the state’s second largest metro area, had an estimated 297,216 jobs in January, up 6,569 jobs, or 2.3%, compared with January 2024. The metro had 9,305 unemployed, up 14.2% from 8,145 in January 2024.

The Fort Smith metro, Arkansas’ third largest metro, had an estimated 97,248 jobs in January, up 1,241 jobs, or 1.3%, compared with January 2024. Regional employment remains below the peak of 104,228 in June 2008. The metro had 3,843 unemployed, down from 4,074 in January 2024. The Jonesboro metro had an estimated 63,753 jobs in January, down 1.4% compared with January 2024. The metro had 2,486 unemployed, up from 2,255 in January 2024.

January’s report reflects the first monthly metro data following significant revisions to data and counties included in the estimates. McDonald County, Mo., was removed from the Northwest Arkansas metro, LeFlore County, Okla., was removed from the Fort Smith metro, and Pine Bluff is no longer reported as a metropolitan statistical area.

NATIONAL NUMBERS
Unemployment rates were higher in January than a year earlier in 290 of the 387 metro areas, lower in 64 areas, and unchanged in 33 areas, according to the BLS report. A total of 18 areas had jobless rates of less than 3%, and 11 areas had rates of at least 8%.

Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 38 metropolitan areas, decreased in one area, and was essentially unchanged in 348 areas. The U.S. jobless rate in January was 4.4%, not seasonally adjusted, up from 4.1% a year earlier.

In January, Rapid City, S.D., had the lowest unemployment rate at 2%. The next lowest rates were in Sioux Falls, S.D.-Minn., at 2.1%, and Bozeman, Mont., at 2.2%. El Centro, Calif., had the highest rate at 17.9%. A total of 220 areas had January jobless rates below the U.S. rate of 4.4%, 155 areas had rates above it, and 12 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
January 2025: 306,521
January 2024: 298,792

Employment
January 2025: 297,216
January 2024: 290,647

Unemployed
January 2025: 9,305
January 2024: 8,145

Jobless rate
January 2025: 3%
January 2024: 2.7%

• Fort Smith metro (Arkansas-Oklahoma)
Labor force
January 2025: 101,091
January 2024: 100,081

Employment
January 2025: 97,248
January 2024: 96,007

Unemployed
January 2025: 3,843
January 2024: 4,074

Jobless rate
January 2025: 3.8%
January 2024: 4.1%

• Hot Springs
Labor force
January 2025: 43,039
January 2024: 41,214

Employment
January 2025: 41,310
January 2024: 39,462

Unemployed
January 2025: 1,729
January 2024: 1,752

Jobless rate
January 2025: 4%
January 2024: 4.3%

• Jonesboro
Labor force
January 2025: 66,239
January 2024: 66,930

Employment
January 2025: 63,753
January 2024: 64,675

Unemployed
January 2025: 2,486
January 2024: 2,255

Jobless rate
January 2025: 3.8%
January 2024: 3.4%

• Central Arkansas (Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway)
Labor force
January 2025: 381,113
January 2024: 369,060

Employment
January 2025: 367,509
January 2024: 356,027

Unemployed
January 2025: 13,604
January 2024: 13,033

Jobless rate
January 2025: 3.6%
January 2024: 3.5%

• Memphis/West Memphis (Tennessee-Arkansas)
Labor force
January 2025: 624,099
January 2024: 615,772

Employment
January 2025: 595,749
January 2024: 590,850

Unemployed
January 2025: 28,350
January 2024: 24,922

Jobless rate
January 2025: 4.5%
January 2024: 4%

• Texarkana (Arkansas-Texas)
Labor force
January 2025: 62,320
January 2024: 62,600

Employment
January 2025: 59,668
January 2024: 59,911

Unemployed
January 2025: 2,652
January 2024: 2,634

Jobless rate
January 2025: 4.3%
January 2024: 4.3%