Retail, health care, tourism drive Fort Smith metro job gains

Fort Smith metro job gains in retail, health care and tourism helped offset losses in manufacturing and professional and business services in January, according to federal data. The metro jobless rate in January was 5%, up from 3.8% in January 2025.

The recent January jobs report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) included a significant revision in historic job numbers. The result lowered estimated job numbers in the region. For example, Fort Smith metro nonfarm job numbers in December were initially reported at 105,200. After the revision the tally dropped to 102,500.

The Fort Smith metro had an estimated 101,000 nonfarm jobs in January, down 500 jobs or 0.5% compared with 101,800 jobs in January 2025. Regional employment remains below the peak of 108,700 in September 2007. The metro had 5,070 unemployed, up 31.7% from 3,850 in January 2025.

The Fort Smith metro had the lowest percentage job growth among the state’s four largest metro areas. The Northwest Arkansas metro had a 2.5% gain, the Jonesboro metro was up 1.4%, and central Arkansas had a 0.4% gain.

The trade, transportation, utilities sector posted a gain of 300 jobs in January compared with January 2025. Jobs in the sector are down 1.87% compared with January 2020.

Leisure and hospitality — tourism — jobs had an estimated gain of 200 jobs in January and are up 7.1% compared with January 2020. Education and health services sector jobs also posted an estimated gain of 200 jobs in January and are up 4.3% compared with January 2020.

Sectors with job declines in January included professional and business services (down 600 jobs) and manufacturing (down 300 jobs). Four of the top seven job sectors in the Fort Smith metro posted job gains since 2020.

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

JOB SECTOR NUMBERS
Following are details on the region’s top seven job categories.
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities
January 2026: 20,900
January 2025: 20,600
January 2020: 21,300
The sector posted record employment of 22,400 in July 2023.

Education and Health Services
January 2026: 17,000
January 2025: 16,800
January 2020: 16,300
The sector posted record employment of 17,100 in August 2025.

Manufacturing
January 2026: 17,600
January 2025: 17,900
January 2020: 16,200
The sector posted record employment of 29,200 in June 1999.

Government
January 2026: 12,900
January 2025: 13,000
January 2020: 14,200
The sector posted record employment of 14,900 in March 2020.

Professional and Business Services
January 2026: 10,100
January 2025: 10,700
January 2020: 11,000
The sector posted record employment of 12,900 in August 2007.

Leisure and Hospitality (tourism)
January 2026: 9,000
January 2025: 8,800
January 2020: 8,400
The sector first posted record employment at 9,600 jobs in May 2025.

Mining, Logging, Construction
January 2026: 4,800
January 2025: 4,800
January 2020: 4,600
The sector first posted record employment of 7,400 in August 2008.