The COVID-19 pandemic radically altered the U.S. economy, with unemployment peaking at , according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). While jobs have been gaining since, millions of out-of-work Americans are still searching for jobs.
Before COVID-19 gutted the economy, the United States' economic landscape was , with health care, computer systems design, and scientific industries leading a push for more employment. On the flip side, industries like wired telecommunications, postal service, and textile production are showing a rapid decline. With the development of newer and more advanced technologies every day, the job landscape is shifting and so are the pay demands and prerequisite skills. There is a strong correlation between advanced education and a higher salary鈥攚orkers with higher education levels have higher wages and lower unemployment rates. Of course, it should be noted that obstacles remain for universal access to quality higher education.
compiled a list of industries with the highest employment in Fort Smith, AR-OK Metro Area using data from . Industries are ranked by number of employees as of 2019.
Keep reading to see which industries in Fort Smith are the surest bets for employment.
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#19. Management of companies and enterprises
Fort Smith, AR-OK Metro Area
- Employed: 534 (0.5% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +69.5%
National
- Employed: 232,031
- Percent of total employment: 0.1%
- #20 most common industry nationwide
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#18. Information
Fort Smith, AR-OK Metro Area
- Employed: 613 (0.6% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -41.5%
National
- Employed: 2,959,616
- Percent of total employment: 1.9%
- #16 most common industry nationwide
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#17. Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
Fort Smith, AR-OK Metro Area
- Employed: 653 (0.6% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -75.3%
National
- Employed: 799,011
- Percent of total employment: 0.5%
- #19 most common industry nationwide
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#16. Utilities
Fort Smith, AR-OK Metro Area
- Employed: 876 (0.8% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -51.7%
National
- Employed: 1,272,369
- Percent of total employment: 0.8%
- #18 most common industry nationwide
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#15. Real estate and rental and leasing
Fort Smith, AR-OK Metro Area
- Employed: 1,124 (1.1% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +7.7%
National
- Employed: 3,034,330
- Percent of total employment: 1.9%
- #15 most common industry nationwide
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#14. Arts, entertainment, and recreation
Fort Smith, AR-OK Metro Area
- Employed: 2,170 (2.1% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +32.8%
National
- Employed: 3,532,697
- Percent of total employment: 2.2%
- #14 most common industry nationwide
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#13. Finance and insurance
Fort Smith, AR-OK Metro Area
- Employed: 2,279 (2.2% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -42.3%
National
- Employed: 7,263,440
- Percent of total employment: 4.6%
- #10 most common industry nationwide
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#12. Wholesale trade
Fort Smith, AR-OK Metro Area
- Employed: 3,046 (2.9% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -2.5%
National
- Employed: 4,013,368
- Percent of total employment: 2.5%
- #13 most common industry nationwide
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#11. Administrative and support and waste management services
Fort Smith, AR-OK Metro Area
- Employed: 3,378 (3.2% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +7.4%
National
- Employed: 6,766,918
- Percent of total employment: 4.3%
- #12 most common industry nationwide
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#10. Professional, scientific, and technical services
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#9. Other services, except public administration
Fort Smith, AR-OK Metro Area
- Employed: 4,055 (3.9% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -36.7%
National
- Employed: 7,584,054
- Percent of total employment: 4.8%
- #9 most common industry nationwide
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#8. Public administration
Fort Smith, AR-OK Metro Area
- Employed: 4,771 (4.6% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -15.8%
National
- Employed: 7,140,292
- Percent of total employment: 4.5%
- #11 most common industry nationwide
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#7. Construction
Fort Smith, AR-OK Metro Area
- Employed: 6,386 (6.1% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +12.6%
National
- Employed: 11,036,894
- Percent of total employment: 7.0%
- #7 most common industry nationwide
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#6. Accommodation and food services
Fort Smith, AR-OK Metro Area
- Employed: 6,833 (6.5% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -32.0%
National
- Employed: 11,801,878
- Percent of total employment: 7.4%
- #5 most common industry nationwide
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#5. Transportation and warehousing
Fort Smith, AR-OK Metro Area
- Employed: 7,835 (7.5% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +31.6%
National
- Employed: 7,665,636
- Percent of total employment: 4.8%
- #8 most common industry nationwide
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#4. Educational services
Fort Smith, AR-OK Metro Area
- Employed: 9,497 (9.1% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -21.9%
National
- Employed: 14,839,461
- Percent of total employment: 9.3%
- #4 most common industry nationwide
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#3. Retail trade
Fort Smith, AR-OK Metro Area
- Employed: 9,855 (9.4% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -37.2%
National
- Employed: 17,216,634
- Percent of total employment: 10.8%
- #2 most common industry nationwide
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#2. Health care and social assistance
Fort Smith, AR-OK Metro Area
- Employed: 16,435 (15.7% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -7.0%
National
- Employed: 22,131,751
- Percent of total employment: 13.9%
- #1 most common industry nationwide
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#1. Manufacturing
Fort Smith, AR-OK Metro Area
- Employed: 19,084 (18.2% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -12.9%
National
- Employed: 15,770,698
- Percent of total employment: 9.9%
- #3 most common industry nationwide
