March job numbers trend lower in most Arkansas metros

A “slowing trend” in Arkansas job growth was evident in Tuesday’s federal report showing that only three of the seven metro areas in or connected to Arkansas posted year-over-year job gains in March. The Northwest Arkansas and Jonesboro metros posted jobless rates below 4%.

The March jobs report for U.S. metro areas, posted Tuesday (May 19) by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), shows job gains in the Northwest Arkansas, Jonesboro, and Texarkana metros.

Central Arkansas – Little Rock, North Little Rock and Conway – had 393,700 nonfarm jobs in March, down 500 jobs, or 0.13%, compared with March 2025. The metro had 15,956 unemployed, up 14.2% from 13,969 in March 2025. The region set a nonfarm jobs record of 397,400 in December 2025.

Northwest Arkansas, the state’s second largest metro area, had an estimated 306,200 nonfarm jobs in March, up 6,700 jobs, or 2.2%, compared with March 2025. The metro had 10,638 unemployed, up 9.1% from 9,722 in March 2025. The region set a nonfarm jobs record of 307,400 in October 2025.

The Fort Smith metro, Arkansas’ third largest metro had an estimated 101,100 nonfarm jobs in March, down 1,000 jobs, or 1%, compared with 102,100 jobs March 2025. Regional employment remains below the peak of 108,700 in September 2007. The metro had 4,291 unemployed, up 12.5% from 3,812 in March 2025.

The Jonesboro metro had an estimated 64,600 nonfarm jobs in March, up 300 jobs, or 0.46%, compared with March 2025. The metro had 2,630 unemployed, up 3.5% from 2,540 in March 2025. The region set a nonfarm jobs record of 65,500 in December 2025.

Dr. Michael Pakko, chief economist and state economic forecaster with the Arkansas Economic Development Institute at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, said in a May 6 note about the state’s economy that “payroll employment growth is following a slowing trend.”

“The trend in employment and labor force indicates that economy that is absorbing new entrants and re-entrants, with some experiencing periods of unemployment in the process,” Pakko noted.

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.

ARKANSAS, NATIONAL NUMBERS
Estimated Arkansas nonfarm payroll jobs in March totaled 1,344,100, up 6,900 jobs, or 0.5% compared with 1,337,200 in March 2025, according to the BLS). The nonfarm jobs number set a record of 1,345,900 in January. The U.S. jobless rate in March was 4.3%, up from 4.2% in March 2025. The state’s jobless rate was 4.3% in March, up from 3.9% in March 2025.

Nationwide, unemployment rates were higher in March than a year earlier in 174 of the 387 metropolitan areas, lower in 172 areas, and unchanged in 41 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 8 metro areas, decreased in 8 areas, and was essentially unchanged in 371 areas. The national unemployment rate in March was 4.3%, up from 4.2% in March 2025.

In March, Rapid City, S.D., had the lowest unemployment rate at 2%. The next lowest rates were in Burlington-South Burlington, Vt., and Urban Honolulu, Hawaii, at 2.2% each. El Centro, Calif., had the highest rate at 16.9%. A total of 219 areas had March jobless rates below the U.S. rate of 4.3%, 150 areas had rates above it, and 18 areas had rates equal to that of the nation.

ARKANSAS METRO JOBS DATA
Following are labor market data for the seven metro areas.
• Northwest Arkansas
Nonfarm Employment
March 2026: 306,200
March 2025: 299,500

Unemployed
March 2026: 10,608
March 2025: 9,722

Jobless rate
March 2026: 3.3%
March 2025: 3.1%

• Fort Smith metro (Arkansas-Oklahoma)
Nonfarm Employment
March 2026: 101,100
March 2025: 102,100

Unemployed
March 2026: 4,291
March 2025: 3,812

Jobless rate
March 2026: 4.2%
March 2025: 3.7%

• Hot Springs
Nonfarm Employment
March 2026: 40,600
March 2025: 41,000

Unemployed
March 2026: 1,965
March 2025: 1,740

Jobless rate
March 2026: 4.4%
March 2025: 3.9%

• Jonesboro
Nonfarm Employment
March 2026: 64,600
March 2025: 64,300

Unemployed
March 2026: 2,630
March 2025: 2,540

Jobless rate
March 2026: 3.9%
March 2025: 3.8%

• Central Arkansas (Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway)
Nonfarm Employment
March 2026: 393,700
March 2025: 394,200

Unemployed
March 2026: 15,956
March 2025: 13,969

Jobless rate
March 2026: 4%
March 2025: 3.6%

• Memphis/West Memphis (Tennessee-Arkansas)
Nonfarm Employment
March 2026: 652,300
March 2025: 652,500

Unemployed
March 2026: 26,644
March 2025: 27,346

Jobless rate
March 2026: 4.2%
March 2025: 4.3%

• Texarkana (Arkansas-Texas)
Nonfarm Employment
March 2026: 60,000
March 2025: 59,900

Unemployed
March 2026: 2,673
March 2025: 2,563

Jobless rate
March 2026: 4.3%
March 2025: 4.1%