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 5.6 percent in November. This was an increase from 5.0 percent in October and an increase from 3.1 percent in November 2019.
“Following months of decline, the unemployment rate in Kansas
increased to 5.6 percent in November with over 86,000 unemployed,” said
Acting Secretary Ryan Wright. “The Extended Benefits (EB) program ended
on December 12th in Kansas. In addition, two federally funded CARES Act
programs, the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program and
Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program, are
currently scheduled to end on December 26th, unless Congress acts to
extend them."
The unemployment rate in Ellis County jumped more than a full percentage point — from 2.9 percent in October to 4 percent in November.
Seasonally adjusted job estimates indicate total Kansas nonfarm jobs decreased by 2,900 from October. Private sector jobs, a subset of total nonfarm jobs, decreased by 2,600 from the previous month, while government decreased by 300.
“Nonfarm job growth has slowed in Kansas in recent months,” said
Labor Economist Emilie Doerksen. “In November, total nonfarm jobs
declined by 2,900, with the majority of this decline in the leisure and
hospitality and professional and business services industries. The U.S.
has also seen a slower rate of job growth."
Since November 2019, Kansas seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have declined by 58,300. This change is due to a decrease of 45,800 private sector jobs and 12,500 government jobs.
