Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services division of the Kansas Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.3% in December. This was a decrease from 3.6% in November and a decrease from 4.7% in December 2020.
“Kansas ended the year with sustained progress towards economic recovery in the state,” said Secretary Amber Shultz. “Estimates indicate that employers continued to add jobs in December and the unemployment rate declined to 3.3%.”
The jobless rate across northeast Kansas remains extremely low, with the rate in Riley County dropping from 2.2 percent in November to 2 percent. Geary County saw a drop from 3.5 to 3.1 percent. Clay The rate in Pottawatomie, Wabaunsee and Clay counties is below 2 percent.
Seasonally adjusted job estimates indicate total Kansas nonfarm jobs increased by 800 from November. Private sector jobs, a subset of total nonfarm jobs, increased by 2,000 from the previous month, while government decreased by 1,200.
“Kansas nonfarm jobs increased for the seventh consecutive month as gains in the private sector offset a decline in government jobs in December,” said Labor Economist Emilie Doerksen. “Although the rate of growth has slowed, December estimates indicate continued expansion for trade, transportation, and utilities as well as continued recovery in manufacturing.”
Since December 2020, Kansas seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 38,600. This change is due to an increase of 36,500 private sector jobs and 2,100 government jobs.