TOPEKA — 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 August. This is unchanged from 2.7% in July and a decrease from 2.8% in August 2022, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Labor.
Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 4,100 from July. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs decreased by 2,700 over the month, while government decreased by 1,400.
The jobless rate in Riley County is down from 3.3 percent in July to 3.1 percent in August. Pottawatomie County is also down to just 2.7 percent. Wabaunsee, Geary and Ellsworth Counties are up slightly. The rate in Geary County is 4.4 percent. The rate in Dickinson County is steady at 3.3 percent.
“The household survey indicates little change in labor force estimates for Kansas in August, with the state maintaining a low unemployment rate at 2.7%,” said labor economist, Emilie Doerksen. “The survey of employers shows a small decline in jobs over the month, but compared to last August, total nonfarm job estimates have increased 1.3%.”
Since August 2022 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 18,000. This change is due to an increase of 13,600 private sector jobs and an increase of 4,400 government jobs.
Click here for the complete Kansas labor market information for August.