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 7.2 percent in July. This was a decrease from 7.5 percent in June and an increase from 3.1 percent in July 2019.
“It's encouraging to see the unemployment rate drop for the third month in a row, falling to 7.2 percent,” said Acting Secretary Ryan Wright. “While the number of unemployed decreased by more than 4,000 over the month, the current unemployment level remains around 64,000 more than the March low of 42,644."
Across northwest Kansas, the jobless rate remained relatively flat, although down significantly since the spike in May caused by the pandemic shutdown — and still well about recent historical figures.
Ellis County recorded a 4.2 percent unemployment rate in July, up from 4.1 percent in June. Graham County's 6.2 percent was the highest in northwest Kansas, and Rooks, Russell, Rush and Barton counties all posted jobless rates higher than 5 percent.
Seasonally adjusted job estimates indicate total Kansas nonfarm jobs increased by 10,000 from June. Private sector jobs, a subset of total nonfarm jobs, increased by 6,800 from the previous month, while government increased by 3,200.
“The July nonfarm jobs total for Kansas was 1,355,000. Kansas gained 10,000 jobs over the month, mainly in accommodation and food services and local government,” said Labor Economist, Emilie Doerksen. “Total nonfarm job estimates remain 68,000 lower than this time last year, with manufacturing and leisure and hospitality accounting for nearly 30,000 of that decline."
Since July 2019, Kansas seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have declined by 68,000. This change is due to a decrease of 56,400 private sector jobs and 11,600 government jobs.
