The latest employment report showed mixed results for Arkansas’ metro areas. Unemployment rates were mostly unchanged, ticking up 0.1 percentage points in Little Rock and Memphis. Over the past 12 months, unemployment rates have generally drifted higher, with the exception of Texarkana, where the rate is down by 0.2 percentage points since July 2024.
Payroll Employment
Nonfarm payroll employment increased in most metro areas across the state. Memphis payrolls declined slightly and Fort Smith showed zero net gain for the month. However, increases were recorded in Arkansas’ other metros, with particularly notable gains in Hot Springs and Little Rock. Over the past 12 months, employment in Memphis, Hot Springs, and Fort Smith has held fairly steady, while payrolls in Jonesboro, Little Rock and Texarkana have increased by magnitudes greater than one percent. In Northwest Arkansas, the increase in employment since July 2024 has been 2.7%.
