Kansas Department of Labor
Area unemployment rates in northwest Kansas were up slightly again in July.
The Ellis County unemployment rate was 3.1% in June and 3.2% in July.
Rates in Trego, Rush, Rooks and Russell counties also were up less than a percent from the previous month.
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 3.2% in July. This is an increase from 3.0% in June and an increase from 2.6% in July 2023.
Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 1,700 from June.
Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs increased by 3,900 over the month, while government decreased by 5,600.
“Kansas employers in the private sector added jobs in July. However, this growth was offset by a decline in government jobs, which resulted in the overall decrease for total nonfarm estimates,” said labor economist Emilie Doerksen. “The private sector job growth was led by an increase in professional and business services jobs as well as a continued upward trend for trade, transportation and utilities.”
Since July 2023 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 21,100. This change is due to an increase of 22,800 private sector jobs and a decrease of 1,700 government jobs.
Complete Kansas labor market information for July is available here.