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Manufacturing and tourism sector jobs continued in August to prop up Fort Smith metro job numbers, with the professional services sector and government sector posting job declines, according to the latest federal jobs data.
The Fort Smith metro had an estimated 101,200 nonfarm jobs in August, just above the 101,100 in August 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Regional employment remains below the peak of 108,700 in September 2007. The metro had 3,911 unemployed in August, below the 4,386 in August 2025.
Northwest Arkansas nonfarm job numbers were up 2.2% in August, and jobs in the central Arkansas metro were up 1.1%. The August numbers are preliminary and subject to revision.
Key Fort Smith metro economic sectors with job gains were Leisure and Hospitality (tourism), up 500 jobs in August compared with August 2025, and manufacturing, with a year-over-year gain of 200 jobs. The Professional and Business Services and Government sectors each posted an estimated loss of 200 jobs in August compared with August 2025.
The region’s tourism sector set a new record in August with an estimated 10,100 jobs, above the 9,600 in August 2025 and up 12.2%, or 1,100 jobs compared with August 2021. Manufacturing jobs in the Fort Smith metro were an estimated 17,900 in August, above the 10,700 in August 2025 and up 1,800 jobs, or 11.1%, compared with August 2021. The sector reached peak employment of 29,200 in June 1999.
A job decline trend continues in the Professional and Business Services. The sector had an estimated 10,100 jobs in August, down from 10,300 in August 2025, and down 700 jobs, or 6.5%, compared with August 2021. The broad Government sector in August had an estimated 11,900 jobs in the Fort Smith metro, down from 12,100 in August 2025, and down 700 jobs, or 5.6%, compared with August 2021.
ARKANSAS JOB NUMBERS
A 5% decline in the number of unemployed and a slight gain in nonfarm jobs in August helped push Arkansas’ jobless rate to 3.9%, below the 4.2% in August 2025. The state’s labor force grew by 1.3% in August compared with August 2025.
Estimated Arkansas nonfarm payroll jobs in August totaled 1,348,500, up 7,800 jobs, or 0.6% compared with 1,340,700 in August 2025. August’s year-over-year net job gain was a rebound from the 1,900 year-over-year jobs gain in July.
The numbers reflect significant revisions based on methodology changes implemented in January 2026. Prior to that, revisions were made to counties included in the estimates. In 2025, LeFlore County, Okla., was removed from the Fort Smith metro.
JOB SECTOR NUMBERS
Following are details on the region’s top seven job categories.
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities
August 2026: 20,500
August 2025: 20,600
August 2021: 21,100
The sector posted record employment of 22,500 in September 2022.
Education and Health Services
August 2026: 17,000
August 2025: 17,100
August 2021: 16,100
The sector first posted record employment of 17,100 in August 2024.
Manufacturing
August 2026: 17,900
August 2025: 17,700
August 2021: 16,100
The sector posted record employment of 29,200 in June 1999.
Government
August 2026: 11,900
August 2025: 12,100
August 2021: 12,600
The sector posted record employment of 14,900 in March 2020.
Professional and Business Services
August 2026: 10,100
August 2025: 10,300
August 2021: 10,800
The sector posted record employment of 12,900 in August 2007.
Leisure and Hospitality (tourism)
August 2026: 10,100
August 2025: 9,600
August 2021: 9,000
The sector posted record employment of 10,100 in the August report.
Mining, Logging, Construction
August 2026: 5,100
August 2025: 5,000
August 2021: 4,400
The sector first posted record employment of 7,400 in August 2008.
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