As they did in June, the Professional and Business Services and the Leisure and Hospitality sectors were among the job growth sectors in the Fort Smith metro during July. The manufacturing sector posted a small decline.

The Fort Smith metro had an estimated 102,400 nonfarm jobs in July, up 400 jobs, or 0.4%, compared with July 2024. Regional employment remains below the peak of 108,800 in November 2007. The metro had 4,222 unemployed, up from 4,006 in July 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The July numbers are preliminary and subject to revision.

The metro jobless rate was 4.1%, up from 3.9% in July 2024. The state’s jobless rate held at 3.7%, up from 3.4% in July 2024.

Fort Smith metro tourism jobs in July were an estimated 9,800, up 8.9% compared with the pre-COVID employment of 9,000 in July 2019. The July job estimate continues a record for the sector which was set in June.

Year-over-year job gains continued during July in most of the seven metro areas in or connected to Arkansas, but the metros also are seeing a rise in the number of unemployed, which has pushed the jobless rates higher in all but one of the metros.

The 2025 numbers reflect significant revisions to the data and counties included in the estimates. 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.

Following are details on the region’s top seven job categories.
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities
July 2025: 22,000
July 2024: 21,800
The sector posted record employment of 22,700 in November 2022.

Education and Health Services
July 2025: 17,600
July 2024: 17,300
The sector first posted record employment of 17,800 the May report.

Manufacturing
July 2025: 18,000
July 2024: 18,100
The sector posted record employment of 29,200 in June 1999.

Government
July 2025: 10,400
July 2024: 10,900
The sector posted record employment of 15,000 in March 2020.

Professional and Business Services
July 2025: 10,900
July 2024: 10,600
The sector posted record employment of 12,700 in April 2017.

Leisure and Hospitality (tourism)
July 2025: 9,800
July 2024: 9,500
June 2025 first marked record employment in the sector.

Mining, Logging, Construction
July 2025: 5,200
July 2024: 5,100
The sector first posted record employment of 7,400 in August 2008.

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