TOPEKA –  Looking at the preliminary Kansas jobless estimates for November, the Kansas Department of Labor reported last Friday that job growth continued for the Sunflower State, albeit modestly. The KDOL and the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.1%, unchanged from 3.1% in October and a decrease from 3.3 percent in November 2018. 

“This month’s report shows continued improvement in labor market conditions in Kansas,” said Labor Secretary Delia Garcia. “The state gained jobs and maintained the lowest unemployment rate in 40 years. Unemployment insurance claims data shows widespread improvement over the last 12 months, she said. But there is still room for improvement. 

Closer to home, the unemployment rate for Barton County came in under the state average at 2.8%, up a tick from 2.7% in October, and down from 3% in November 2018, according to the KDOL. Out of a civilian labor of 13,553 in the county, 13,151 were working and 402 were jobless. 

Statewide, seasonally adjusted job estimates indicate total Kansas nonfarm jobs increased by 1,200 from October. Private sector jobs, a subset of total nonfarm jobs, increased by 900 from the previous month. “Preliminary estimates for November show a modest increase in jobs for the state,” said Senior KDOL Labor Economist Tyler Tenbrink. “The industry showing the most notable increase is transportation equipment manufacturing where workers returned to the payroll after being on strike in October.” 

Since November 2018, Kansas gained 16,800 seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs and 11,800 private sector jobs. 

BLS revised seasonally adjusted preliminary total nonfarm jobs estimates for October upward by 1,000 jobs, from 1,437,800 to 1,438,800. Seasonally adjusted private sector jobs were revised upward by 800 jobs, from 1,175,200 to 1,176,000. 

Looking at the national picture, The national unemployment rate, 3.5 percent, was little changed over the month and from November 2018.

Unemployment rates were lower in November in seven states, higher in five states, and stable in 38 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of  Labor Statistics reported last Friday. Seven states had jobless rate decreases from a year earlier, 2 states had increases, and 41 states and the District had little or no change. 

Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 6 states in November 2019, decreased in 1, and was essentially unchanged in 43 states and the District of Columbia. Over the year, 25 states added nonfarm payroll jobs and 25 states and the District were essentially unchanged.