The Fort Smith metro area is experiencing notable growth in various job sectors despite being below its peak employment levels. Here are the key highlights:
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Overall Job Growth:
- The Fort Smith metro had approximately 99,700 nonfarm jobs in July 2026, marking a 0.2% increase from July 2025.
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Manufacturing Sector:
- Manufacturing jobs rose by nearly 12% over the past five years, totaling around 17,900 in July 2026, a 1.1% increase from July 2025.
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Tourism Sector:
- The tourism sector (Leisure and Hospitality) saw job numbers increase by about 9% in the past five years, with 9,900 jobs reported in July 2026, reflecting a 4.2% increase from the previous year.
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Unemployment:
- The Fort Smith metro had 4,645 unemployed individuals in July 2026, a 3.2% rise from the previous year.
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Other Sectors:
- The Professional and Business Services sector experienced job losses, declining to 10,000 jobs in July 2026, down from 10,300 in July 2025.
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Statewide Context:
- Across Arkansas, nonfarm job growth was virtually flat compared to July 2025, with a total of approximately 1,341,700 jobs.
Top Job Categories (July 2026):
- Trade, Transportation, and Utilities: 20,600 jobs (unchanged from 2025)
- Education and Health Services: 16,900 jobs (unchanged from 2025)
- Manufacturing: 17,900 jobs (up from 17,700 in 2025)
- Government: 10,700 jobs (down from 10,900 in 2025)
- Professional and Business Services: 10,000 jobs (down from 10,300 in 2025)
- Leisure and Hospitality: 9,900 jobs (up from 9,500 in 2025)
- Mining, Logging, Construction: 5,100 jobs (up from 4,900 in 2025)
The state employment scenarios reflect changes in data methodology, leading to some revisions in job estimates. Overall, the Fort Smith metro’s economy is showing signs of recovery in specific sectors despite challenges in others.
