Tourism jobs growth leads Fort Smith metro job sectors in March

Amid overall job losses in the Fort Smith metro during March, the Education & Health Services and Leisure & Hospitality (tourism) sectors posted job gains compared with March 2025, according to federal data. The two sectors have often led metro job growth in recent years.

The Fort Smith metro had an estimated 101,100 nonfarm jobs in March, down 1,000 jobs, or 1%, compared with 102,100 jobs March 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Regional employment remains below the peak of 108,700 in September 2007. The metro had 4,291 unemployed, up 12.5% from 3,812 in March 2025. The metro jobless rate was 4.2% in March, up from 3.7% in March 2025.

Jobs in the Northwest Arkansas metro were up 2.2%, up 0.46% in the Jonesboro metro, and were up 0.13% in the central Arkansas (Little Rock) metro.

“From February to March, nonfarm payroll employment increased in Northwest Arkansas, Jonesboro, Memphis, and Texarkana,” noted Dr. Michael Pakko, chief economist and state economic forecaster with the Arkansas Economic Development Institute at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. “Employment was down slightly in Little Rock, and unchanged in Fort Smith and Hot Springs. Over the past 12 months, employment has increased by 2.2% in Northwest Arkansas and by 1.1% in Central Arkansas. Other areas have shown smaller increases. Fort Smith is down by 0.7% and Hot Springs is 0.2% lower than in March 2025.”

Leisure and Hospitality jobs in the Fort Smith metro had an estimated gain of 300 jobs in March, with jobs in the sector up 8.6% since March 2020. The Education & Health Services sector posted a gain of 200 jobs in March compared with March 2025. Jobs in the sector are up 4.3% compared with March 2020.

Fort Smith metro sectors with job declines in March included Professional & Business Services (down 700 jobs), Manufacturing (down 300 jobs), and Trade, Transportation (down 200 jobs).

The numbers reflect significant revisions, based on methodology changes, implemented in January 2026. Prior to that, revisions were made to counties included in the estimates. In 2025, LeFlore County, Okla., was removed from the Fort Smith metro.

JOB SECTOR NUMBERS
Following are details on the region’s top seven job categories.
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities
March 2026: 20,400
March 2025: 20,600
March 2020: 21,000
The sector posted record employment of 22,500 in September 2022.

Education and Health Services
March 2026: 17,100
March 2025: 16,900
March 2020: 16,400
The sector first posted record employment of 17,100 in October 2024.

Manufacturing
March 2026: 17,600
March 2025: 17,900
March 2020: 16,200
The sector posted record employment of 29,200 in June 1999.

Government
March 2026: 13,100
March 2025: 13,300
March 2020: 14,900
The sector posted record employment of 14,900 in March 2020.

Professional and Business Services
March 2026: 10,300
March 2025: 11,000
March 2020: 11,300
The sector posted record employment of 12,900 in August 2007.

Leisure and Hospitality (tourism)
March 2026: 9,300
March 2025: 9,000
March 2020: 8,500
The sector first posted record employment at 9,600 jobs in May 2025.

Mining, Logging, Construction
March 2026: 4,800
March 2025: 4,900
March 2020: 4,600
The sector first posted record employment of 7,400 in August 2008.