May jobless rates rise in 4 Arkansas metro areas, down in 3

At 2.5% and 1.2%, respectively, the Northwest Arkansas and Jonesboro metros posted the largest year-over-over percentage job gains in May, according to federal data. The Northwest Arkansas metro set a nonfarm jobs record at 310,200 in the May report.

The May jobs report for U.S. metro areas, posted Wednesday (July 1) by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), shows Northwest Arkansas had the lowest jobless rate in Arkansas at 3%, and the Texarkana metro had the highest rate at 4.2%.

Central Arkansas — Little Rock, North Little Rock and Conway — had 395,600 nonfarm jobs in May, up 0.2% compared with 394,900 in May 2025. The metro had 14,439 unemployed, up 3.5% from 13,953 in May 2025. The region set a nonfarm jobs record of 397,400 in December 2025.

Northwest Arkansas, the state’s second largest metro area, had an estimated 310,200 nonfarm jobs in May, up 7,700 jobs, or 2.5%, compared with May 2025. The May nonfarm number set a new record for the metro. The metro had 9,738 unemployed, up 1.4% from 9,601 in May 2025.

The Fort Smith metro, Arkansas’ third largest metro had an estimated 102,300 nonfarm jobs in May, down 500 jobs, or 0.5%, compared with 102,800 jobs in May 2025. Regional employment remains below the peak of 108,700 in September 2007. The metro had 4,126 unemployed, up 7.2% from 3,848 in May 2025.

The Jonesboro metro had an estimated 65,000 nonfarm jobs in May, up 800 jobs, or 1.1%, compared with May 2025. The metro had 2,406 unemployed, down 3.8% from 2,501 in May 2025. The region set a nonfarm jobs record of 65,500 in December 2025.

The numbers reflect significant revisions, based on methodology changes, implemented in January. Prior to that, revisions were made to counties included in the estimates. In 2025, 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
Job numbers were up less than 1% in Arkansas during May, with the number of unemployed up 7%, according to BLS data posted June 23. The state’s jobless rate in May was 4.2%, up from 4% in May 2025, but down from 4.3% in April. Estimated nonfarm payroll jobs in May totaled 1,345,300, up 5,900 jobs, or 0.4%, compared with 1,339,400 in May 2025. The number of unemployed was 60,560, up 7% compared with May 2025.

Unemployment rates were lower in May than a year earlier in 191 of the 387 metro areas, higher in 164 areas, and unchanged in 32 areas. A total of 47 areas had jobless rates of less than 3% and seven areas had rates of at least 8%. Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in eight metro areas, decreased in four areas, and was essentially unchanged in 375 areas. The U.S. jobless rate in May was 4.3%, unchanged compared with May 2025.

In May, Bismarck, N.D., and Sioux Falls, S.D.-Minn., had the lowest unemployment rates at 1.8% each. El Centro, Calif., had the highest rate at 16.9%. A total of 231 areas had May jobless rates below the U.S. rate of 4.3%, 139 areas had rates above it, and 17 areas had rates equal to that of the nation.

Link here for the BLS report.

ARKANSAS METRO JOBS DATA
Following are labor market data for the seven metro areas.
• Northwest Arkansas
Nonfarm employment
May 2026: 310,200
May 2025: 302,500

Unemployed
May 2026: 9,738
May 2025: 9,601

Jobless rate
May 2026: 3%
May 2025: 3.1%

• Fort Smith metro (Arkansas-Oklahoma)
Nonfarm employment
May 2026: 102,300
May 2025: 102,800

Unemployed
May 2026: 4,126
May 2025: 3,848

Jobless rate
May 2026: 4%
May 2025: 3.8%

• Hot Springs
Nonfarm employment
May 2026: 41,200
May 2025: 41,400

Unemployed
May 2026: 1,700
May 2025: 1,730

Jobless rate
May 2026: 3.8%
May 2025: 3.9%

• Jonesboro
Nonfarm employment
May 2026: 65,000
May 2025: 64,200

Unemployed
May 2026: 2,406
May 2025: 2,501

Jobless rate
May 2026: 3.5%
May 2025: 3.8%

• Central Arkansas (Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway)
Nonfarm employment
May 2026: 395,500
May 2025: 394,900

Unemployed
May 2026: 14,439
May 2025: 13,953

Jobless rate
May 2026: 3.7%
May 2025: 3.6%

• Memphis/West Memphis (Tennessee-Arkansas)
Nonfarm employment
May 2026: 652,400
May 2025: 653,100

Unemployed
May 2026: 25,738
May 2025: 25,683

Jobless rate
May 2026: 4.1%
May 2025: 4%

• Texarkana (Arkansas-Texas)
Nonfarm employment
May 2026: 60,600
May 2025: 60,500

Unemployed
May 2026: 2,630
May 2025: 2,497

Jobless rate
May 2026: 4.2%
May 2025: 4%