Northwest Arkansas' unemployment rate fell to 4.5 percent in April, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The area's employment rate was 5.4 percent in March and 5.3 percent in April 2013.
The state's April unemployment rate was 6.1 percent and the national rate was 5.9 percent.
The area followed the nationwide trend of dropping rates, as unemployment fell in 357 of the 372 metropolitan areas in April. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports 118 areas had rates of less than 5 percent.
Northwest Arkansas is part of the metropolitan statistical area that includes Washington, Benton and Madison counites in Arkansas and McDonald County, Mo.