TOPEKA, Kan. – Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services (LMIS) division of the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 2.7% in February. This is an increase from 2.6% in January and a decrease from 2.8% in February 2023, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Labor.
Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 3,600 from January. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs increased by 3,800 over the month, while government decreased by 200.
The unemployment rate in Geary County jumped from 3.5 percent in January to 4.4 percent. The rate in Riley County is up from 1.7 percent in December and 2.6 percent in January to 3 percent. The rate in Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee counties is also up slightly
“Kansas employers added jobs in February, with total nonfarm job estimates increasing by 3,600,” said labor economist, Emilie Doerksen. “The largest gains were in construction and leisure and hospitality.
Both of these industries added more than 1,000 jobs.” Since February 2023 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 13,000. This change is due to an increase of 8,700 private sector jobs and an increase of 4,300 government jobs.
Click here for complete Kansas labor market information for February