Overall unemployment rate moved up to 3.8% with the biggest shift in Government, which lost 700 roles, based on the most recently available information published in August 2022.
Total employment in the Fort Smith, AR-OK market rose by 553 jobs in June and the unemployment rate increased compared to the prior month by 70 bps to 3.8%. The national unemployment rate increased by 46 bps over the same time to 3.8%.
- Fort Smith, AR-OK unemployment rate is 4 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
- Unemployment in the market is 100 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
- Average wages (per hour) grew in June versus prior month by 8.1% and are down compared to last year at this time in the market.
For key employment segments of the market, total jobs declined by -0.1%. Key sectors include:
- Transportation & Utilities: 23,900; no change
- Manufacturing: 18,400; +200
- Government: 17,300; -700
- Education & Healthcare: 16,600; no change
- Business Services: 11,700; no change
- Restaurants & Hotels: 10,100; +300
- Construction, Mining: 5,200; +100
- Other Jobs: 4,300; no change
- Financial Services: 3,900; no change
- IT & Development: 1,200; no change
Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through June 2022 (Data published August 2022 and reports created on August 3, 2022). Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.
Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.