Hays Post
Unemployment inched up in January to 1.9 percent from 1.3 percent in December, according to the latest labor report.
Unemployment remains very low across northwest Kansas with all counties below 2.5 percent with the exception of Trego County at 3.3 percent and Graham County at 3.4 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 2.6 percent for the state in January. This is unchanged from 2.6 percent in December and a decrease from 2.8 percent in January 2023.
Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 1,200 from December. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs decreased by 1,800 over the month, while government increased by 600.
Since January 2023 Kansas' seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 8,500. This change is due to an increase of 7,000 private sector jobs and an increase of 1,500 government jobs.