Mobility Tool

What Opportunities and Challenges Characterize Northwest Arkansas's Labor Market Today?

This dashboard provides industry-level insight into Northwest Arkansas's workforce – showing where people work and at what wage, how those sectors are growing, and what education needs look like – against a national benchmark. Use it to better understand the Northwest Arkansas labor market, and how each major industry’s demand and growth exceed, match, or lag national benchmarks.

Labor Force Size272,804

Employment Growth4.1%

National Benchmark: 1.2%

Labor Force Participation Rate67.6%

National Benchmark: 62.3%

Unemployment Rate3.2%

National Benchmark: 4.3%

College Attainment Rate37.5%

National Benchmark: 42.0%

*Sources: BGI analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics, American Community Survey, and Lightcast data

Sort by

Share of Total Labor Force

Location Quotient

Job Postings

Employment Growth

Pay

Non-BA Share of Workforce

Retail Trade

17.5%

68.3%

19,678

-1.2%

$117,500

61.8%

Health Care and Social Assistance

11.5%

-16.2%

15,930

+19.4%

$70,000

57.5%

Manufacturing

11.5%

29.9%

11,207

+16.5%

$55,640

73.2%

Educational Services

9.0%

-1.1%

6,019

-1.9%

$50,000

26.8%

Construction

8.8%

27.3%

1,979

+2.5%

$52,500

87.2%

Accommodation and Food Services

7.4%

12.6%

4,853

-12.0%

$33,280

90.5%

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

6.3%

-30.3%

8,649

+17.1%

$129,900

38.5%

Transportation and Warehousing

5.4%

2.7%

3,037

+36.8%

$70,200

73.2%

Other Services (except Public Administration)

5.2%

10.0%

1,660

-16.1%

$45,760

76.1%

Significantly Below National Average

Below National Average

On par with National Average

Above National Average

Significantly Above National Average

*Sources: BGI analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics, American Community Survey, and Lightcast data

Key Insights

Logistics, Health, and Advanced Industry Mix are Driving Near-Term Growth

Transportation & Warehousing is surging (+36.8% YoY, much above benchmark), with pay $72.8k (much above) and postings on par. Health Care is also expanding (+19.4%, much above), with pay $70.0k (much above) and postings on par. Manufacturing is in a strong upswing (+16.5%, much above) with postings above benchmark supporting the trend.

PSTS (Professional, Scientific & Technical Services) is Scaling Fast and Pays Top-Tier

+17.1% growth (much above), pay $125.9k (much above), postings above benchmark. Non-BA access is on par (38.5%).

Construction is Steady but with Weak Demand Signals

+2.5% growth (on par), pay $55k (on par), postings much below benchmark. Non-BA access 87.2% (on par).

Which Industries Can Drive Greater Economic Mobility in Northwest Arkansas?* Click on a bubble to explore roles for this industry.

Explore how industries in Northwest Arkansas compare in terms of talent mobility and employment growth. Use this tool to identify sectors that could benefit the most from upskilling or career pathways.Bubble size reflects the number of workers in each industry.

Mobility Gaps

Opportunity Engines

Redeployment Opportunities

Thinning Launchpads

Mobility Index

Employment Growth

How can Northwest Arkansas Mobilize Talent to Strengthen Opportunity Engines?

This chart highlights the roles that merit recruiting, reskilling, or redesign focus.

Roles inEducation Level

Address Opportunity Gaps

Mobilize Now

Redeploy

Build On Strengths

Mobility Index

Talent Shortage Index

Which High-Mobility Roles Should Northwest Arkansas Target to Unlock Opportunities?

This section highlights individual roles with high talent mobility – occupations where workers can transition into, grow, or move across roles more easily.

Roles in

High Mobility Roles with Talent Shortages in Northwest Arkansas

Talent Flows into Accountants and Auditors

This chart shows transition pathways into Accountants and Auditors

Loading chart...

Feeder Roles

Select a role to see its feeder roles

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