Most Arkansas metro job numbers rise; jobless rates also rise

Job numbers in June were up in most metro areas in or connected to Arkansas, but the jobless rate in all metro areas was up in the June report. Northwest Arkansas had the lowest rate at 2.8%, and the Pine Bluff area had the highest rate at 5.1%.

U.S. metro jobs data was posted Tuesday (July 30) by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Arkansas’ four largest metro regions – areas with most of the workforce in the state – had a combined 27,923 year-over-year job gains in June, well above Arkansas’ 13,496 jobs job gains in June. The metro tally above the state number shows job growth primarily in the state’s larger urban areas.

Central Arkansas – Little Rock, North Little Rock and Conway – had 370,420 employed in June, up 12,856 jobs, or 3.6%, from the 357,564 in June 2023. The metro had 13,179 unemployed, up from 11,638 in June 2023. Northwest Arkansas, the state’s second largest metro area, had an estimated 315,456 jobs in June, up 10,709 jobs, or 3.5%, from the 304,747 in June 2023. The metro had 9,192 unemployed, up from 8,180 in June 2023.

The Fort Smith metro, Arkansas’ third largest metro, had an estimated 119,212 jobs in June, up 2,517 jobs, or 2.2%, from 116,695 in June 2023. Regional employment remains well below the peak of 124,098 in June 2006. The metro had 4,867 unemployed, up from 4,602 in June 2023. The Jonesboro metro had an estimated 67,658 jobs in June, up 2.8% compared with the 65,817 in June 2023. The metro had 2,330 unemployed, up from 2,063 in June 2023.

NATIONAL NUMBERS
Unemployment rates were higher in June than a year earlier in 336 of the 389 metro areas, lower in 40 areas, and unchanged in 13 areas. A total of 35 areas had jobless rates of less than 3% and 6 areas had rates of at least 8%. Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 52 metro areas, decreased in 1 area, and was essentially unchanged in 336 areas.

The national unemployment rate in June was 4.3%, up from 3.8% a year earlier.

In June, Burlington-South Burlington, Vt., and Sioux Falls, S.D., had the lowest unemployment rates at 1.9% each. The next lowest rates were in Portsmouth, N.H.-Maine, and Rapid City, S.D., at 2.1% each. El Centro, Calif., had the highest rate at 16.4%. A total of 231 areas had June jobless rates below the U.S. rate of 4.3%, 147 areas had rates above it, and 11 areas had rates equal to that of the nation.

METRO JOBS DATA
Following are labor market data for the eight metro areas.
• Northwest Arkansas
Labor force
June 2024: 324,648
June 2023: 312,927

Employment
June 2024: 315,456
June 2023: 304,747

Unemployed
June 2024: 9,912
June 2023: 8,180

Jobless rate
June 2024: 2.8%
June 2023: 2.6%

• Fort Smith metro (Arkansas-Oklahoma)
Labor force
June 2024: 124,079
June 2023: 121,297

Employment
June 2024: 119,212
June 2023: 116,695

Unemployed
June 2024: 4,867
June 2023: 4,602

Jobless rate
June 2024: 3.9%
June 2023: 3.8%

• Hot Springs
Labor force
June 2024: 42,391
June 2023: 42,026

Employment
June 2024: 40,637
June 2023: 40,352

Unemployed
June 2024: 1,754
June 2023: 1,674

Jobless rate
June 2024: 4.1%
June 2023: 4%

• Jonesboro
Labor force
June 2024: 69,988
June 2023: 67,880