Revisions to the metro area unemployment data—including the revised seasonally adjusted figures—are finally complete. The most significant revisions involve redefinitions of the metropolitan areas themselves, as well as updated population controls for labor force numbers. Pine Bluff is no longer considered a metropolitan area so new data will not be available for that urban center. Changes to the unemployment rate readings across the other metro areas were subject to only minor revisions.
Generally, the state’s metro areas have seen unemployment rates trending higher over the second half of 2024 and the first half of 2025 (with the exception of Fort Smith, which has seen no change since the beginning of 2024).
In the most recent monthly data for May, unemployment rates in all seven metro areas were unchanged from April. Northwest Arkansas continues to show the lowest unemployment rate in the state at 2.9%. Memphis and Texarkana have rates above 4%, while all other metro areas remain near 3.5% (slightly higher in Hot Springs).
Payroll Employment
Data for nonfarm payroll employment was revised in March. As with the unemployment rate data, the revisions were primarily associated with changes in population controls and the metro area definitions. The pattern of employment growth rates around the state was largely unaffected.
Recent trends are summarized in the table and figure below. From April to May, employment increased in all metro areas except Jonesboro. Over the past 12 months, growth rates have ranged from near zero in Hot Springs and Memphis to 3.2% in Northwest Arkansas.
All metro areas have shown net employment growth over the past five years. Employment growth in NWA has been nearly double that of Central Arkansas, with Jonesboro showing only slightly slower growth than Little Rock. Fort Smith, Hot Springs and Texarkana have all expanded by approximately 2% over the course of 5 years, while employment growth in Memphis has been near zero.
