Fort Smith, Arkansas Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Fort Smith fell 0.1 percentage points in February 2018 to 4.1%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.3 percentage points higher than the Arkansas rate. The unemployment rate in Fort Smith peaked in February 2011 at 9.2% and is now 5.1 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 4.0% in January 2017, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.1 percentage points. You can also compare Fort Smith unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	February 2018	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	4.1%	0.0	-0.6
Arkansas	3.8%	+0.1	+0.2
Fort Smith	4.1%	-0.1	0.0

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with February 2018 data as March metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Fort Smith, Arkansas, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Fort Smith, Arkansas Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Fort Smith peaked in February 2011 at 11,593. There are now 6,703 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 4,855 in April 2017, the number of unemployed has now grown by 35. Fort Smith employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Fort Smith, Arkansas) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	February 2018	Month/Month	Year/Year
Fort Smith	4,890	-102	-29

Number of Unemployed Persons

Fort Smith, Arkansas Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Arkansas Unemployment Rate	Fort Smith Unemployment Rate	Fort Smith Unemployed
March 2018	4.1%	—	—	—
February 2018	4.1%	3.8%	4.1%	4,890
January 2018	4.1%	3.7%	4.2%	4,992
December 2017	4.1%	3.7%	4.1%	4,993
November 2017	4.1%	3.7%	4.1%	5,070
October 2017	4.1%	3.7%	4.2%	5,118
September 2017	4.2%	3.7%	4.2%	5,131
August 2017	4.4%	3.7%	4.3%	5,177
July 2017	4.3%	3.7%	4.0%	4,884
June 2017	4.3%	3.7%	4.1%	4,952
May 2017	4.3%	3.6%	4.1%	4,885
April 2017	4.4%	3.6%	4.0%	4,855