Fort Smith jobless rate dips in September

Jobless figures, released Wednesday (Nov. 3) by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, show that the Pine Bluff area was the only one of eight Arkansas metro areas that saw a jobless rate increase — from 9% in August to 9.4% in September. The Memphis-West Memphis and Pine Bluff were the only metro areas to post a jobless rate decline in September compared to September 2009.

The Fort Smith metro jobless rate was 7.7% in September, down from 7.9% in August and up from 7.5% in September 2009. The biggest unemployment decline was in the Texarkana area, with the rate moving from 7.8% in August to 7.1% in September.

According to the BLS report, the number of unemployed in the Fort Smith metro area was 10,093 in September, down 0.9% compared to September 2009, but up 62% over the 6,230 unemployed in September 2008. January 2009 marked the beginning of a high number of unemployed in the Fort Smith metro area that peaked with 11,937 in January 2010.

Total nonfarm payroll in September was 115,700, up from the 115,700 in August, and down 1.6% compared to September 2009.

Civilian labor force levels in the Fort Smith metro area decreased 0.66% to 131,919 in September compared to August. The September labor force is 3.2% lower than the 135,668 in September 2009, which could indicate people are moving out of the area to find work elsewhere, are no longer looking for work or have exhausted their time in the unemployment system.

Fort Smith’s manufacturing sector employed an estimated 21,100 in September, down from 21,300 in August, and down from the 21,600 employed in the sector in September 2009. Employment in the sector is down 31.27% from a decade ago when January 2001 manufacturing employment in the metro area stood at 30,700.

Jobs in the Trade, Transportation and Utilities sector — the region’s largest job sector —  totaled 23,400 in September compared to 23,600 in August. The sector employed 23,900 in September 2009.

Arkansas’ September unemployment rate was 7.7%, up from 7.5% in August and up from 7.5% in September 2009. The Oklahoma rate during September was 6.9%, down from 7% in August and unchanged from September 2009. The U.S. unemployment rate in September was 9.6%, unchanged from August and down from the 9.8% in September 2009.

The BLS reported that unemployment rates were lower in September than a year earlier in 212 of the 372 metropolitan areas, higher in 143 areas, and unchanged in 17 areas. Also, 13 areas recorded jobless rates of at least 15%, while 10 areas registered rates below 5%.

ARKANSAS METRO AREAS
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers
Sept. 2010: 6.1%
Sept. 2009: 5.6%
Aug. 2010: 6.4%

Fort Smith
Sept. 2010: 7.7%
Sept. 2009: 7.5%
Aug. 2010: 7.9%

Hot Springs
Sept. 2010: 7.6%
Sept. 2009: 6.9%
Aug. 2010: 7.9%

Jonesboro
Sept. 2010: 7%
Sept. 2009: 6.5%
Aug. 2010: 7.2%

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway
Sept. 2010: 6.8%
Sept. 2009: 6.1%
Aug. 2010: 7.1%

Memphis-West Memphis
Sept. 2010: 9.5%
Sept. 2009: 10.4%
Aug. 2010: 9.6%

Pine Bluff
Sept. 2010: 9.4%
Sept. 2009: 9.6%
Aug. 2010: 9%

Texarkana
Sept. 2010: 7.1%
Sept. 2009: 6.6%
Aug. 2010: 7.8%

FORT SMITH METRO AREA HISTORY
Past annual average unemployment rates
2009: 7.9%
2008: 4.8%
2007: 5.3%
2006: 4.9%
2005: 4.5%
2004: 5.2%
2003: 5.5%
2002: 5%
2001: 4.2%
2000: 3.7%