February jobs reports shows decline in Fort Smith metro jobs

Of the seven top job categories in the Fort Smith metro, only the tourism and the education and health services sectors posted job gains in the February report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The metro posted a year-over-year job loss in the February report.

The Fort Smith metro had an estimated 101,000 nonfarm jobs in February, down 800 jobs, or 0.8%, compared with 101,800 jobs in February 2025. Regional employment remains below the peak of 108,700 in September 2007. The metro had 4,633 unemployed, up 10.8% from 4,180 in February 2025.

The metro jobless rate was 4.5% in February, up from 4.1% in February 2025. The February jobs report also shows that the Fort Smith metro was the only one of the seven Arkansas metro areas to post a year-over-year job decline.

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

Leisure and hospitality — tourism — jobs had an estimated gain of 200 jobs in February. Education and health services sector jobs also posted an estimated gain of 100 jobs in February.

Sectors with job declines in February included professional and business services (down 700 jobs) and manufacturing (down 200 jobs).

The numbers reflect significant revisions, based on methodology changes, implemented in January. Prior to that, revisions were made to counties included in the estimates. In 2025, 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.

JOB SECTOR NUMBERS
Following are details on the region’s top seven job categories.
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities
February 2026: 20,500
February 2025: 20,600
February 2020: 21,000
The sector posted record employment of 22,500 in September 2022.

Education and Health Services
February 2026: 17,000
February 2025: 16,900
February 2020: 16,300
The sector posted record employment of 17,100 in October 2024.

Manufacturing
February 2026: 17,700
February 2025: 17,900
February 2020: 16,300
The sector posted record employment of 29,200 in June 1999.

Government
February 2026: 13,100
February 2025: 13,300
February 2020: 14,300
The sector posted record employment of 14,900 in March 2020.

Professional and Business Services
February 2026: 10,200
February 2025: 10,900
February 2020: 11,100
The sector posted record employment of 12,900 in August 2007.

Leisure and Hospitality (tourism)
February 2026: 9,100
February 2025: 8,900
February 2020: 8,400
The sector first posted record employment at 9,600 jobs in May 2025.

Mining, Logging, Construction
February 2026: 4,800
February 2025: 4,800
February 2020: 4,500
The sector first posted record employment of 7,400 in August 2008.