Fort Smith, Arkansas Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Fort Smith fell 0.0 percentage points in July 2019 to 3.5%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.1 percentage points higher than the Arkansas rate. The unemployment rate in Fort Smith peaked in January 2011 at 9.1% and is now 5.6 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.5% in May 2019, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.0 percentage points. You can also compare Fort Smith unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	July 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	3.7%	0.0	-0.2
Arkansas	3.4%	-0.1	-0.2
Fort Smith	3.5%	0.0	-0.3

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with July 2019 data as August 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 11,524. There are now 7,344 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 4,166 in June 2019, the number of unemployed has now grown by 14. Fort Smith employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Fort Smith, Arkansas) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	July 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
Fort Smith	4,180	+14	-322

Number of Unemployed Persons

Fort Smith, Arkansas Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Arkansas Unemployment Rate	Fort Smith Unemployment Rate	Fort Smith Unemployed
September 2019	3.5%	—	—	—
August 2019	3.7%	3.4%	—	—
July 2019	3.7%	3.4%	3.5%	4,180
June 2019	3.7%	3.5%	3.5%	4,166
May 2019	3.6%	3.6%	3.5%	4,196
April 2019	3.6%	3.6%	3.6%	4,290
March 2019	3.8%	3.7%	3.7%	4,397
February 2019	3.8%	3.8%	3.7%	4,465
January 2019	4.0%	3.7%	3.7%	4,431
December 2018	3.9%	3.7%	3.7%	4,411
November 2018	3.7%	3.7%	3.7%	4,406
October 2018	3.8%	3.7%	3.7%	4,397