Northwest and central Arkansas drove the vast majority of statewide job gains this September, according to federal figures showing that economic momentum remains heavily concentrated in the state’s leading metro areas. Together, the two regions accounted for 85.5% of net job gains across Arkansas.
The numbers, published in a Wednesday report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, put Arkansas’ statewide jobless rate at 3.9% for September. That figure marks an improvement from the 4.2% recorded in September 2025, buoyed by a 1% gain in nonfarm payroll jobs and an 8% drop in total unemployment.
All seven metro areas in or connected to Arkansas posted lower jobless rates in September compared with the same month a year prior. Five of those regions dropped below the statewide average of 3.9%, led by Northwest Arkansas at 3.1%.
Northwest and Central Arkansas Reach Employment Records
Northwest Arkansas cemented its position as an economic engine by adding 6,800 jobs over the year, a 2.2% increase that pushed total nonfarm employment to an estimated 311,600. That figure establishes a new regional record. Unemployment in the area fell to 10,062 people, down from 10,857 in September 2025.
Meanwhile, the central Arkansas metro area—spanning Little Rock, North Little Rock, and Conway—grew by 3,200 nonfarm jobs, or 0.8%, reaching 397,100 jobs. Unemployed residents in the capital region dropped to 14,186, compared with 15,652 a year earlier. Both hubs carried the bulk of statewide labor growth, leaving other regions to experience more modest shifts.
The Fort Smith metro, the state’s third largest, added a modest 400 jobs to reach 102,100, remaining below its historic peak of 108,700 set in September 2007. Jonesboro slipped slightly, losing 100 jobs to settle at 64,800 nonfarm positions.
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| Metro Area | September 2026 Nonfarm Jobs | September 2026 Jobless Rate | September 2025 Jobless Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Arkansas | 311,600 | 3.1% | 3.4% |
| Central Arkansas | 397,100 | 3.6% | 4.0% |
| Fort Smith | 102,100 | 3.8% | 4.2% |
| Jonesboro | 64,800 | 3.6% | 4.0% |
| Hot Springs | 40,400 | 3.7% | 4.4% |
| Texarkana | 59,700 | 4.3% | 4.6% |
| Memphis/West Memphis | 657,400 | 4.1% | 4.3% |
Federal Revisions Alter Metro Boundaries as State Payrolls Grow
Underlying these figures are methodological adjustments implemented by federal statisticians. Revisions rolled out in January altered county compositions across multiple metro areas, removing McDonald County, Missouri, from Northwest Arkansas, and LeFlore County, Oklahoma, from Fort Smith. Pine Bluff is no longer reported as a metropolitan statistical area.
Total nonfarm payroll employment statewide reached a record 1,350,800 in September, an increase of 11,700 jobs from September 2025. The state’s tourism sector also hit a fresh high, contributing to the broader expansion. The national unemployment rate stood at 4.2% in September, down from 4.4% a year prior. Detailed metrics and regional breakdowns are available through the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics metro report.
