The Education and Health Services sector in the Northwest Arkansas metro posted the largest year-over-year job gain in March, and the sector posted the largest percentage gain in the previous 10 years among the region’s top six job sectors.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has preliminary Northwest Arkansas metro job sector numbers for March, but does not have March estimates on total number of employed, the labor force, number of unemployed, and the March jobless rate.
Northwest Arkansas, the state’s second largest metro area, had an estimated 301,480 jobs in February, up 4,209 jobs, or 1.4%, compared with February 2024, according to a recent report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The metro had 10,373 unemployed, up 26% from 8,244 in February 2024.
The metro unemployment rate was 3.3% in February, up from 2.9% in February 2024. Arkansas’ jobless rate in February was 3.6%, up from 3.4% in February 2024.
Education and Health Services jobs had a 1,900 job gain in March compared to March 2024, with the Professional and Business Services sector a close second with a gain of 1,800 jobs.
MARCH SECTOR NUMBERS
Following are details on the region’s top six job categories based on the March estimates.
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities
March 2025: 62,500
March 2024: 62,000
The sector posted record employment of 62,900 in December 2024.
Professional and Business Services
March 2025: 61,500
March 2024: 59,700
The sector posted record employment of 61,900 in February.
Government
March 2025: 45,700
March 2024: 44,000
The sector first posted record employment of 45,700 in November 2024.
Education and Health Services
March 2025: 38,500
March 2024: 36,600
The March number marked a record for sector employment.
Leisure and Hospitality (tourism)
March 2025: 30,900
March 2024: 30,700
The sector posted record employment of 31,800 in September 2024.
Manufacturing
March 2025: 28,600
March 2024: 27,800
The sector posted record employment of 33,600 in November 1994.
10-YEAR SECTOR TRENDS
Of the six largest metro job sectors, all have posted gains in average monthly employment in the past 10 years. The Education and Health Services sector posted the largest percentage gain among the sectors. Following are the average monthly job numbers between 2024 and 2015.
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities
2024 average monthly employment: 61,700
2015 average monthly employment: 52,500
up 17.5%
Professional and Business Services
2024 average monthly employment: 60,200
2015 average monthly employment: 46,400
up 30%
Government
2024 average monthly employment: 43,200
2015 average monthly employment: 32,100
up 34.6%
Education and Health Services
2024 average monthly employment: 36,900
2015 average monthly employment: 25,500
up 44.7%
Leisure and Hospitality (tourism)
2024 average monthly employment: 31,100
2015 average monthly employment: 23,100
up 35%
Manufacturing
2024 average monthly employment: 27,900
2015 average monthly employment: 24,200
up 15.3%
