Department of Numbers

Fort Smith, Arkansas Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Fort Smith rose 0.2 percentage points in October 2023 to 3.5%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.4 percentage points higher than the Arkansas rate. The unemployment rate in Fort Smith peaked in April 2020 at 11.0% and is now 7.5 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.8% in April 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.7 percentage points. You can also compare Fort Smith unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate October 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.9% +0.1 +0.2
Arkansas 3.1% +0.2 -0.4
Fort Smith 3.5% +0.2 +0.2
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with October 2023 data as November metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Fort Smith, Arkansas, National

Fort Smith, Arkansas monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Fort Smith, Arkansas Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Fort Smith peaked in April 2020 at 12,892. There are now 8,671 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 3,339 in May 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 882. Fort Smith employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Fort Smith, Arkansas) is also available.

Unemployed Persons October 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Fort Smith 4,221 +227 +335

Number of Unemployed Persons

Fort Smith, Arkansas Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Arkansas
Unemployment Rate
Fort Smith
Unemployment Rate
Fort Smith
Unemployed
November
2023
3.7%
October
2023
3.9% 3.1% 3.5% 4,221
September
2023
3.8% 2.9% 3.3% 3,994
August
2023
3.8% 2.7% 3.1% 3,730
July
2023
3.5% 2.6% 2.9% 3,513
June
2023
3.6% 2.6% 2.8% 3,376
May
2023
3.7% 2.7% 2.8% 3,339
April
2023
3.4% 2.8% 2.8% 3,383
March
2023
3.5% 3.0% 2.9% 3,452
February
2023
3.6% 3.2% 3.0% 3,548
January
2023
3.4% 3.4% 3.2% 3,754
December
2022
3.5% 3.4% 3.3% 3,850

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.