Fort Smith metro tourism job numbers up in November, overall job gain less than 1%

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by Talk Business & Politics staff ([email protected]) ago 22 views 

Tourism jobs helped drive November job growth in the Fort Smith metro, with job declines reported in the manufacturing and government sectors, according to a recent report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

The Fort Smith metro had an estimated 105,500 nonfarm jobs in November, up 1,000 jobs, or 0.95%, compared with November 2024. Regional employment remains below the peak of 108,800 in November 2007. The metro had 4,358 unemployed, up 32.6% from 3,285 in November 2024.

November’s unemployment rate in the metro was 4.2%, up from 3.2% in November 2024.

The metro had the lowest percentage job growth (0.95%) among the state’s four largest metro areas. The Northwest Arkansas metro had a 3.7% gain, the Jonesboro metro was up 1.4%, and central Arkansas had a 1.1% gain.

Trade, Transportation, Utilities jobs in the metro were an estimated 22,700 in November, up 500 jobs compared with 22,200 in November 2024. The region’s Leisure and Hospitality (tourism) sector had 9,600 jobs, up from 9,100 in November 2024. The manufacturing sector had an estimated 18,000 jobs in November, down from 18,200 in November 2024.

The 2025 numbers reflect significant revisions to the data and counties included in the estimates, with LeFlore County, Okla., removed from the Fort Smith metro.

Arkansas’ jobless rate in November was 4.1%, up from 3.6% in November 2024. Total nonfarm employment was an estimated 1,392,800 in November, up 17,700 jobs, or 1.3%, compared with 1,375,100 in November 2024, according to BLS numbers.

Following are details on the region’s top seven job categories.
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities
November 2025: 22,700
November 2024: 21,200
The sector first posted record employment of 22,700 in November 2022.

Education and Health Services
November 2025: 17,800
November 2024: 17,600
The sector first posted record employment of 17,800 in the May report.

Manufacturing
November 2025: 18,000
November 2024: 18,200
The sector posted record employment of 29,200 in June 1999.

Government
November 2025: 12,600
November 2024: 12,800
The sector posted record employment of 15,000 in March 2020.

Professional and Business Services
November 2025: 11,200
November 2024: 11,000
The sector posted record employment of 12,700 in April 2018.

Leisure and Hospitality (tourism)
November 2025: 9,600
November 2024: 9,100
June 2025 first marked record employment in the sector at 9,800 jobs.

Mining, Logging, Construction
November 2025: 5,100
November 2024: 5,100
The sector first posted record employment of 7,400 in August 2008.