The April data for metro are employment and unemployment came out this week showing little change in unemployment rates across Arkansas’ regions.  As shown below, unemployment rates have settled into relatively unchanging levels after falling from pandemic-recession highs.  From March to April, the statewide unemployment rate ticked up one tenth of a percentage point, as did the unemployment rates in Fort Smith, Hot Springs, Jonesboro, Little Rock and Pine Bluff.  The rate in Texarkana declined by one tenth.  Compared to April 2021, unemployment rates are down between 1.1 percentage points (in Northwest Arkansas) to down 2.2% (in Memphis).

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Smoothed Seasonally Adjusted Metropolitan Area Estimates

Differences remain among metro area unemployment rates.  Rates are the lowest In Northwest Arkansas and Jonesboro, with Fort Smith and Little Rock approximately equal to the statewide average.  Hot Springs, Memphis, Pine Bluff and Texarkana remain higher than either the statewide or national averages.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Smoothed seasonally Adjusted Metropolitan Area Estimates

Payroll Employment
Nonfarm payroll employment showed mixed changes across metro areas in April. Employment was down slightly in Fort Smith, and down 0.3% in both Hot Springs and Jonesboro.  Other metro areas showed increases for the month, with Little Rock registering the largest proportional increase (0.5%).

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics (CES)

Compared to a year ago, employment is higher in all of Arkansas’ metro areas, the the fastest growth in Northwest Arkansas (5.8%).  Employment still lags pre-pandemic levels (as of February 2020) in Fort Smith Hot Springs, Pine Bluff and Texarkana.