Kansas Department of Labor
Unemployment across northwest Kansas remained stable between September and October with only slight fluctuations, according to the state's October labor report.
Unemployment rose from 2.2 to 2.3 percent in Ellis County from September to October and from 3.0 to 3.2 percent in Trego County. Unemployment in Rooks County increased from 2.8 to 3.2 percent, and unemployment in Russell County increased slightly from 2.7 to 2.9 percent.
Overall unemployment in the northwest corner of the state remained low with no county above 3.2 percent.
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 2.9 percent in October. This is an increase from 2.8 percent in September and a decrease from 3 percent in October 2022.
Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 3,200 from September. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs increased by 2,400 over the month, while government increased by 800.
Since October 2022 Kansas' seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 15,600. This change is due to an increase of 8,300 private sector jobs and an increase of 7,300 government jobs.