Most Arkansas job growth in March in central, Northwest metros

Six of the seven metro areas in or connected to Arkansas had jobless rate increases in March compared with March 2024, with five of the seven posting year-over-year job gains. Northwest Arkansas and central Arkansas accounted for more than 80% of the state’s job growth in March.

Northwest Arkansas had the lowest jobless rate in March at 2.9%, with the Memphis-West Memphis area the highest at 4.2%. Arkansas’ jobless rate rose to 3.7% in March from 3.4% in March 2024. The Texarkana metro was the only Arkansas metro to post a jobless rate decline – from 4.1% to 4% – in March. The Hot Springs and Memphis-West Memphis metros posted year-over-year job declines in March.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) jobs report posted Tuesday (April 29) shows that Arkansas’ four largest metro regions – areas with most of the workforce in the state – had a combined 14,248 year-over-year job gains in March, which was 91% of Arkansas’ 15,686 gains in March. Northwest Arkansas, with 7,504 year-over-year job gains, and central Arkansas with 5,335 job gains, were responsible for 82% of the state’s total job gains in March.

Central Arkansas – Little Rock, North Little Rock and Conway – had 370,531 employed in March, up 5,335 jobs, or 1.5%, compared with March 2024. The metro had 13,213 unemployed, up 8.7% from 12,155 in March 2024. Northwest Arkansas, the state’s second largest metro area, had an estimated 303,728 jobs in March, up 7,504 jobs, or 2.5 %, compared with March 2024. The metro had 9,149 unemployed, up 14.7% from 7,975 in March 2024.

The Fort Smith metro, Arkansas’ third largest metro, had an estimated 98,470 jobs in March, up 970 jobs, or 1%, compared with March 2024. Regional employment remains below the peak of 104,228 in June 2008. The metro had 3,671 unemployed, up 4.3% from 3,518 in March 2024. The Jonesboro metro had an estimated 64,406 jobs in March, up 0.7% compared with March 2024. The metro had 2,399 unemployed, up from 2,019 in March 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 March than a year earlier in 279 of the 387 metro areas, lower in 72 areas, and unchanged in 36 areas. A total of 25 areas had jobless rates of less than 3% and 10 areas had rates of at least 8%. Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 23 metro areas, decreased in 1 area, and was essentially unchanged in 363 areas. The national unemployment rate in March was 4.2%, up from 3.9% a year earlier.

In March, Rapid City, S.D., and Sioux Falls, S.D.-Minn., had the lowest unemployment rates, at 1.7% and 1.8%, respectively. El Centro, Calif., had the highest rate at 16.4%. A total of 223 areas had March jobless rates below the U.S. rate of 4.2%, 145 areas had rates above it, and 19 areas had rates equal to that of the nation.

METRO JOBS DATA
Following are labor market data for the seven metro areas.
• Northwest Arkansas
Labor force
March 2025: 312,877
March 2024: 304,199

Employment
March 2025: 303,728
March 2024: 296,224

Unemployed
March 2025: 9,149
March 2024: 7,975

Jobless rate
March 2025: 2.9%
March 2024: 2.6%

• Fort Smith metro (Arkansas-Oklahoma)
Labor force
March 2025: 102,141
March 2024: 101,018

Employment
March 2025: 98,470
March 2024: 97,500

Unemployed
March 2025: 3,671
March 2024: 3,518

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

• Hot Springs
Labor force
March 2025: 43,431
March 2024: 44,086

Employment
March 2025: 41,771
March 2024: 42,517

Unemployed
March 2025: 1,660
March 2024: 1,569

Jobless rate
March 2025: 3.8%
March 2024: 3.6%

• Jonesboro
Labor force
March 2025: 66,805
March 2024: 65,986

Employment
March 2025: 64,406
March 2024: 63,967

Unemployed
March 2025: 2,399
March 2024: 2,019

Jobless rate
March 2025: 3.6%
March 2024: 3.1%

• Central Arkansas (Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway)
Labor force
March 2025: 383,744
March 2024: 377,351

Employment
March 2025: 370,531
March 2024: 365,196

Unemployed
March 2025: 13,213
March 2024: 12,155

Jobless rate
March 2025: 3.4%
March 2024: 3.2%

• Memphis/West Memphis (Tennessee-Arkansas)
Labor force
March 2025: 629,437
March 2024: 626,619

Employment
March 2025: 602,785
March 2024: 603,504

Unemployed
March 2025: 26,652
March 2024: 23,115

Jobless rate
March 2025: 4.2%
March 2024: 3.7%

• Texarkana (Arkansas-Texas)
Labor force
March 2025: 62,759
March 2024: 61,623

Employment
March 2025: 60,223
March 2024: 59,114

Unemployed
March 2025: 2,536
March 2024: 2,509

Jobless rate
March 2025: 4%
March 2024: 4.1%