August job numbers and jobless rates up in most Arkansas metro areas

With a 2.7% gain in year-over-year job numbers, the Northwest Arkansas metro had the highest percentage August job gain of the seven metro areas in or connected to Arkansas. The metro also had the largest number of new jobs in the year-over-year comparison.

Jobless rates in the seven metro areas ranged from a low of 3.2% in Northwest Arkansas and a high of 4.7% in the Texarkana metro, according to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) jobs report posted Wednesday (Oct. 1). The August report is preliminary and subject to revision.

Central Arkansas – Little Rock, North Little Rock and Conway – had 401,000 nonfarm jobs in August, up 5,800 jobs, or 1.5%, compared with August 2024. The metro had 15,373 unemployed, up 20.3% from 12,779 in August 2024. The region set an nonfarm jobs record of 402,900 in June.

Northwest Arkansas, the state’s second largest metro area, had an estimated 313,100 nonfarm jobs in August, up 8,300 jobs, or 2.7%, compared with August 2024. The metro had 10,241 unemployed, up 18.4 from 8,653 in August 2024. The metro posted a nonfarm jobs record of 316,900 in May.

The Fort Smith metro, Arkansas’ third largest metro, had an estimated 103,600 nonfarm jobs in August, up 1,000 jobs, or 0.97%, compared with August 2024. Regional employment remains below the peak of 108,800 in November 2007. The metro had 4,219 unemployed, up 16.4 from 3,626 in August 2024.

The Jonesboro metro had an estimated 65,400 nonfarm jobs in August, up 900 jobs, or 1.4%, compared with August 2024. The metro had 2,648 unemployed, up 21.4% from 2,181 in August 2024. The metro posted record nonfarm employment of 66,000 in December 2024.

The 2025 numbers reflect significant revisions by the BLS to the data and counties included in the estimates. 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
Arkansas’ economy added more than 18,000 jobs in August compared with August 2024, but also posted a 10% year-over-year gain in the number of unemployed. The state’s jobless rate was 3.8% in August, up from 3.7% in July and above 3.5% in August 2024.

Total nonfarm employment — seasonally adjusted — was an estimated 1,385,800 in August, up 18,200 jobs, or 1.3%, compared with 1,367,500 in August 2024. The number of unemployed was 53,852, up 10% compared with August 2024.

Unemployment rates were higher in August than a year earlier in 243 of the 387 metro areas, lower in 115 areas, and unchanged in 29 areas, according to the BLS report. A total of 30 areas had jobless rates of less than 3% and 8 areas had rates of at least 8%.

Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 18 metro areas, decreased in 1 area, and was essentially unchanged in 368 areas. The national unemployment rate in August was 4.5%, not seasonally adjusted, little changed from a year earlier

The largest over-the-year employment increases occurred in New York-Newark-Jersey City (+136,000), Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington (+57,700), and Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler (+35,900). The largest over-the-year percentage gains in employment occurred in Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach (6.1%), Rochester (5.9%), and Charleston-North Charleston (3.2%).

ARKANSAS METRO JOBS DATA
Following are labor market data for the seven metro areas.
• Northwest Arkansas
Nonfarm Employment
August 2025: 314,100
August 2024: 305,800

Unemployed
August 2025: 10,241
August 2024: 8,653

Jobless rate
August 2025: 3.2%
August 2024: 2.8%

• Fort Smith metro (Arkansas-Oklahoma)
Nonfarm Employment
August 2025: 103,600
August 2024: 102,600

Unemployed
August 2025: 4,219
August 2024: 3,626

Jobless rate
August 2025: 4.1%
August 2024: 3.6%

• Hot Springs
Nonfarm Employment
August 2025: 40,700
August 2024: 40,700

Unemployed
August 2025: 1,867
August 2024: 1,599

Jobless rate
August 2025: 4.2%
August 2024: 3.7%

• Jonesboro
Nonfarm Employment
August 2025: 65,400
August 2024: 64,500

Unemployed
August 2025: 2,648
August 2024: 2,181

Jobless rate
August 2025: 3.9%
August 2024: 3.3%

• Central Arkansas (Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway)
Nonfarm Employment
August 2025: 401,000
August 2024: 395,200

Unemployed
August 2025: 15,373
August 2024: 12,779

Jobless rate
August 2025: 3.9%
August 2024: 3.3%

• Memphis/West Memphis (Tennessee-Arkansas)
Nonfarm Employment
August 2025: 661,700
August 2024: 657,700

Unemployed
August 2025: 28,962
August 2024: 18,690

Jobless rate
August 2025: 4.6%
August 2024: 4.6%

• Texarkana (Arkansas-Texas)
Nonfarm Employment
August 2025: 61,300
August 2024: 60,200

Unemployed
August 2025: 2,989
August 2024: 2,735

Jobless rate
August 2025: 4.7%
August 2024: 4.4%