Fort Smith regional wage growth trails that of Arkansas

Sebastian County had the highest third quarter 2025 average weekly wage among Arkansas and Oklahoma counties in the Fort Smith region, with Sequoyah and Franklin counties posting the largest percentage wage gains at 7.5% and 4.8%, respectively.

The numbers, from a recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report, show that the overall Arkansas economy is growing faster than the counties in the Fort Smith region and more than the regional hub of Sebastian County, according to Kendall Ross, University of Arkansas at Fort Smith associate vice chancellor of Economic and Workforce Development.

The BLS data, posted March 10, is the latest county wage data report.

The number of Sebastian County business establishments grew 2.3% in the third quarter of 2025 compared with the same quarter in 2024, below 7.3% growth statewide. Sebastian County growth in average weekly wages was up 2.3%, also below 3.8% statewide.

“The Q3 2025 numbers show a regional economy that is still expanding, but not uniformly across the trade area,” Ross noted in analysis for Talk Businesss & Politics. “Arkansas as a whole is growing faster than most of the counties in this group, particularly in terms of establishment growth. Sebastian County continues to post steady, across the board gains, even if it is not keeping pace with the state overall.”

Ross noted that an almost 7% decline in total wages paid in Crawford County during the third quarter raises questions about economic trends in the county. Average weekly wages in the county were up 0.86%, and total wages paid were down 6.6% in the third quarter.

“Crawford County raises the biggest questions,” he said. “The increase in establishments paired with flat wages and a notable decline in total wages paid could indicate some softness in employment or perhaps hours, and that’s a trend worth validating before drawing firm conclusions.”

Ross provided other notes about the third-quarter report:

• Sequoyah County stood out with strong gains in both average weekly wages and total wages paid, while Logan and Franklin counties also posted solid wage growth.
• In Le Flore County, a decline in the number of establishments alongside higher total payrolls suggests that remaining employers may be larger or paying more, even as some businesses have exited.

WAGE AND BUSINESS NUMBERS
Following is the BLS info on six counties in the Fort Smith region. The counties are ranked by the average weekly wage. The percentages reflect changes from the same quarter in 2024.

Arkansas
Q3 2025 Establishments: 111,203 (7.3%)
Q3 2025 Average weekly wages: $1,135 (3.8%)
Q3 2025 Total wages paid in the quarter: $19.067 billion (4.5%)

Sebastian County
Q3 2025 Establishments: 3,819 (2.3%)
Q3 2025 Average weekly wages: $1,044 (2.3%)
Q3 2025 Total wages paid in the quarter: $912.656 million (2.9%)

Crawford County
Q3 2025 Establishments: 1,341 (4.6%)
Q3 2025 Average weekly wages: $933 (0.86%)
Q3 2025 Total wages paid in the quarter: $214.563 million (-6.6%)

Franklin County
Q3 2025 Establishments: 390 (-0.25%)
Q3 2025 Average weekly wages: $873 (4.4%)
Q3 2025 Total wages paid in the quarter: $55.332 million (3.4%)

Le Flore County
Q3 2025 Establishments: 1,109 (-2.3%)
Q3 2025 Average weekly wages: $832 (3.6%)
Q3 2025 Total wages paid in the quarter: $125.883 million (5.1%)

Logan County
Q3 2025 Establishments: 469 (3.7%)
Q3 2025 Average weekly wages: $808 (4.8%)
Q3 2025 Total wages paid in the quarter: $52.367 million (4.4%)

Sequoyah County
Q3 2025 Establishments: 795 (3.9%)
Q3 2025 Average weekly wages: $755 (7.5%)
Q3 2025 Total wages paid in the quarter: $91.513 million (7.1%)