TOPEKA – 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 3.5 percent in May. This was unchanged from 3.5 percent in April and a decrease from 9.0 percent in May 2020.
“Kansas maintained a relatively low unemployment rate, at 3.5 percent in May,” said Secretary Amber Shultz. “The state has seen significant improvement over the past year as community spread of COVID- 19 has declined and the number of Kansans employed has increased.”
Jobless rates across northwest Kansas continued to be extremely low in May, with Ellis County posting a 2.1 percent unemployment rate. Only Decatur and Barton counties had jobless rates at or above 3 percent.
Seasonally adjusted job estimates indicate total Kansas nonfarm jobs decreased by 1,500 from April. Private sector jobs, a subset of total nonfarm jobs, decreased by 2,000 from the previous month, while government increased by 500.
“As economic recovery continues in Kansas, we can see employment levels in multiple industries approach pre-pandemic levels,” said Labor Economist Todd Rilinger. “Five of the eleven major sectors have seen a recovery of over 70 percent of jobs lost due to the pandemic.”
Since May 2020, Kansas seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 68,300. This change is due to an increase of 64,800 private sector jobs and 3,500 government jobs.
BLS revised seasonally adjusted preliminary total nonfarm jobs estimates for April downward by 900 jobs, from 1,372,400 to 1,371,500. Seasonally adjusted private sector jobs were also revised downward by 1,100 jobs, from 1,125,500 to 1,124,400.