Tourism sector leads Fort Smith metro job growth in December

The Fort Smith metro tourism sector not only had the biggest year-over-year job gain in December, but has had the largest percentage job gain since the pandemic year of 2020, according to figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

The Fort Smith metro had an estimated 105,200 nonfarm jobs in December, up 700 jobs, or 0.7%, compared with December 2024. Regional employment remains below the peak of 108,800 in November 2007. The metro had 4,529 unemployed, up 35% from 3,354 in December 2024.

December’s unemployment rate in the metro was 4.4%, up from 3.3% in December 2024. The Arkansas unemployment rate in December was 4.2%, up from 3.6% in December 2024.

The metro had the lowest percentage job growth (0.7%) among the state’s four largest metro areas. The Northwest Arkansas metro had a 3.6% gain, the Jonesboro metro was up 1.4%, and central Arkansas had a 1% gain.

SECTOR SHIFTS
The top job gainers in December were in tourism and Trade, Transportation, Utilities. The metro tourism (leisure and hospitality) sector had an estimated 9,400 jobs in December, up 500 jobs from 8,900 in December 2024. Trade, Transportation, Utilities jobs in the metro were an estimated 22,900 in December, up 300 jobs compared with 22,600 in December 2024. The sector set an employment record with the December tally.

Sectors with job declines in December included Mining, Logging, Construction (down 100 jobs), and government (down 200 jobs).

Five of the top seven job sectors in the Fort Smith metro posted job gains since 2020. The government and the Professional and Business Services sector had declines of 10.1% and 2.6%, respectively.

Tourism sector jobs were up 17.5% between December 2020 and December 2025, the most of any sector. Manufacturing jobs in the period were up 14.5%, followed by Mining, Logging, Construction jobs up 11.1%, and Education and Health Services jobs up 9.2%. However, manufacturing employment is still well below the record of 29,200 in June 1999.

The largest sectors in terms of job growth between December 2020 and December 2025 were Manufacturing (up 2,200 jobs), Education and Health Services (up 1,500 jobs), and tourism (up 1,400 jobs).

The 2025 numbers reflect significant revisions to the data and counties included in the estimates, with LeFlore County, Okla., removed from the Fort Smith metro.

JOB SECTOR NUMBERS
Following are details on the region’s top seven job categories.
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities
December 2025: 22,900
December 2024: 22,600
December 2020: 21,600
The sector posted record employment with the December estimate.

Education and Health Services
December 2025: 17,800
December 2024: 17,600
December 2020: 16,300
The sector first posted record employment of 17,800 in May 2025.

Manufacturing
December 2025: 18,000
December 2024: 18,200
December 2020: 15,800
The sector posted record employment of 29,200 in June 1999.

Government
December 2025: 12,600
December 2024: 12,800
December 2020: 13,900
The sector posted record employment of 15,000 in March 2020.

Professional and Business Services
December 2025: 11,200
December 2024: 11,000
December 2020: 11,400
The sector posted record employment of 12,900 in August 2007.

Leisure and Hospitality (tourism)
December 2025: 9,600
December 2024: 9,100
December 2020: 8,000
June 2025 first marked record employment in the sector at 9,800 jobs.

Mining, Logging, Construction
December 2025: 5,100
December 2024: 5,100
December 2020: 4,500
The sector first posted record employment of 7,400 in August 2008.