Fort Smith Area Economic Summary
Updated June 28, 2017
This summary presents a sampling of economic information for the area; supplemental data are provided for regions
and the nation. Subjects include unemployment, employment, wages, prices, spending, and benefits. All data are
not seasonally adjusted and some may be subject to revision. Area definitions may differ by subject. For more area
summaries and geographic definitions, see www.bls.gov/regions/economic-summaries.htm.
Unemployment rates for the Fort Smith area,
selected area counties, and the nation
Average weekly wages for all industries by county
Fort Smith area, 4th quarter 2016
(U.S. = $1,067; Area = $739)
Unemployment rates
4.5
United States
4.1
4.6
Fort Smith area
4.0
3.9
Crawford Co.,
AR
3.3
7.1
Le Flore Co., OK
5.9
3.7
Sebastian Co.,
AR
3.3
6.4
Sequoyah Co.,
OK
0.0
5.6
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
May-16
May-17
Source: U.S. BLS, Local Area Unemployment Statistics.
Source: U.S. BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages.
Over-the-year changes in employment on nonfarm payrolls and employment by major industry sector
Percent
12-month percent changes in employment
3.0
Fort Smith area
United States
2.0
1.0
0.0
-1.0
May-14
May-15
May-16
Source: U.S. BLS, Current Employment Statistics.
May-17
Fort Smith area employment
(numbers in thousands)
Total nonfarm
Mining, logging, and construction
Manufacturing
Trade, transportation, and utilities
Information
Financial activities
Professional and business services
Education and health services
Leisure and hospitality
Other services
Government
May
2017
Change from May
2016 to May 2017
Number
Percent
-0.9
-0.3
-0.5
-0.6
0.1
0.0
0.2
0.1
-0.1
0.0
0.2
-0.8
-5.4
-2.8
-2.5
8.3
0.0
1.5
0.6
-1.0
0.0
1.1
114.1
5.3
17.5
23.2
1.3
3.8
13.2
16.8
9.9
4.3
18.8
Source: U.S. BLS, Current Employment Statistics.
• www.bls.gov/ro6
Over-the-year changes in the selling prices received by
producers for selected industries nationwide
Over-the-year change in the prices paid by urban
consumers for selected categories
12-month percent change in CPI-U, May 2017
6.0
Percent
4.0
5.4
South region
U.S. city average
1.7
2.0
0.0
1.9
0.7
0.0
General freight trucking
Hospitals
Electrical equipment mfg
4.7
4.0
2.0
12-month percent changes in PPI
All Items
0.9
-2.0
Food
Energy
-4.0
May-14
Source: U.S. BLS, Consumer Price Index.
Average annual spending and percent distribution for
selected categories
South Region average annual expenditures 2015
May-15
Healthcare
$4,264
8.2%
Personal
insurance &
pensions
$5,608
10.8%
Food
$6,613
12.7%
Transportation
$9,598
18.5%
Total:
$52,020
Employer costs per hour worked for wages and
selected employee benefits by geographic division
Total compensation
Wages and salaries
Total benefits
Paid leave
Vacation
Supplemental pay
Insurance
Retirement and savings
Legally required benefits
United
States
$17.16
$23.86
General and operations managers
38.27
58.70
Human resources managers
38.12
57.79
Accountants and auditors
30.95
36.89
Registered nurses
25.51
34.70
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
17.65
20.96
Customer service representatives
13.86
16.91
Construction laborers
12.93
18.22
Office clerks, general
12.39
15.87
Retail salespersons
11.68
13.07
Stock clerks and order fillers
11.45
12.82
Helpers--production workers
10.11
12.95
8.84
9.89
Cooks, fast food
Source: U.S. BLS, Occupational Employment Statistics, May 2016.
Source: U.S. BLS, Consumer Expenditure Survey.
Private industry, March 2017
Fort Smith
area
Total, all occupations
Housing
$16,518
31.8%
May-17
Average hourly wages for selected occupations
Occupation
All other
$9,419
18.1%
May-16
Source: U.S. BLS, Producer Price Index.
West South
Central (1)
$30.07
21.60
8.47
1.92
0.96
1.05
2.10
1.10
2.31
(1) West South Central includes AR, LA, OK, and TX.
Source: U.S. BLS, Employer Costs for Employee Compensation.
United
States
$33.11
23.06
10.06
2.30
1.18
1.17
2.65
1.34
2.60
Over-the-year changes in wages and salaries
Percent
3.0
12-month percent changes in ECI
2.0
1.0
0.0
West South Central
-1.0
Mar-14
Mar-15
Source: U.S. BLS, Employment Cost Index.
Southwest Information Office • [email protected] • https://www.bls.gov/regions/southwest • 972-850-4800
United States
Mar-16
Mar-17