February jobless rates rise in most Arkansas metros

Just like in January, five of the seven metro areas in or connected to Arkansas had year-over-year job gains in February. Only the Jonesboro and Texarkana metro areas posted net job declines in February.

Northwest Arkansas had the lowest metro rate at 3.3% in February, with the Hot Springs, Memphis-West Memphis and Texarkana metros each having the highest rate at 4.4%.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) jobs report posted Wednesday (April 9) shows that Arkansas’ four largest metro regions – areas with most of the workforce in the state – had a combined 11,560 year-over-year job gains in February, which was 63.5% of Arkansas’ 18,205 gains in February. The February jobs gain among the four metros was 37% below the 18,370 year-over-year gain in January.

Arkansas’ jobless rate in February was 3.6%, up from 3.4% in February 2024. The February numbers are preliminary and subject to revision.

Central Arkansas – Little Rock, North Little Rock and Conway – had 368,553 employed in February, up 8,015 jobs, or 2.2%, compared with February 2024. The metro had 14,843 unemployed, up from 13,093 in February 2024. Northwest Arkansas, the state’s second largest metro area, had an estimated 301,480 jobs in February, up 4,209 jobs, or 1.4%, compared with February 2024. The metro had 10,373 unemployed, up 26% from 8,244 in February 2024.

The Fort Smith metro, Arkansas’ third largest metro, had an estimated 97,822 jobs in February, up 553 jobs, or 0.57%, compared with February 2024. Regional employment remains below the peak of 104,228 in June 2008. The metro had 4,178 unemployed, up from 3,965 in February 2024. The Jonesboro metro had an estimated 64,088 jobs in February, down 1.86% compared with February 2024. The metro had 2,676 unemployed, up from 2,254 in February 2024.

The 2025 numbers reflect significant revisions to the 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 February than a year earlier in 255 of the 387 metro areas, lower in 97 areas, and unchanged in 35 areas, according to the BLS report. A total of 15 areas had jobless rates of less than 3% and 12 areas had rates of at least 8%.

Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 21 metro areas, decreased in 1 area, and was essentially unchanged in 365 areas. The national unemployment rate in February was 4.5%, not seasonally adjusted, up from 4.2% a year earlier.

In February, Rapid City, S.D., and Sioux Falls, S.D.-Minn., had the lowest jobless rates at 2.1% each. El Centro, Calif., had the highest rate at 17.2%. A total of 235 areas had February jobless rates below the U.S. rate of 4.5%, 142 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
February 2025: 311,853
February 2024: 305,515

Employment
February 2025: 301,480
February 2024: 297,271

Unemployed
February 2025: 10,373
February 2024: 8,244

Jobless rate
February 2025: 3.3%
February 2024: 2.7%

• Fort Smith metro (Arkansas-Oklahoma)
Labor force
February 2025: 102,000
February 2024: 101,234

Employment
February 2025: 97,822
February 2024: 97,269

Unemployed
February 2025: 4,178
February 2024: 3,965

Jobless rate
February 2025: 4.1%
February 2024: 3.9%

• Hot Springs
Labor force
February 2025: 43,401
February 2024: 41,626

Employment
February 2025: 41,508
February 2024: 39,914

Unemployed
February 2025: 1,893
February 2024: 1,712

Jobless rate
February 2025: 4.4%
February 2024: 4.1%

• Jonesboro
Labor force
February 2025: 66,764
February 2024: 67,559

Employment
February 2025: 64,088
February 2024: 65,305

Unemployed
February 2025: 2,676
February 2024: 2,254

Jobless rate
February 2025: 4%
February 2024: 3.3%

• Central Arkansas (Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway)
Labor force
February 2025: 383,396
February 2024: 373,631

Employment
February 2025: 368,553
February 2024: 360,538

Unemployed
February 2025: 14,843
February 2024: 13,093

Jobless rate
February 2025: 3.9%
February 2024: 3.5%

• Memphis/West Memphis (Tennessee-Arkansas)
Labor force
February 2025: 625,647
February 2024: 619,686

Employment
February 2025: 598,383
February 2024: 596,529

Unemployed
February 2025: 27,264
February 2024: 22,157

Jobless rate
February 2025: 4.4%
February 2024: 3.7%

• Texarkana (Arkansas-Texas)
Labor force
February 2025: 62,934
February 2024: 63,131

Employment
February 2025: 60,146
February 2024: 60,321

Unemployed
February 2025: 2,788
February 2024: 2,810

Jobless rate
February 2025: 4.4%
February 2024: 4.5%