TOPEKA – There are more Kansans working now than ever before, according to the Kansas Department of Labor and Bureau of Labor Statistics. Preliminary estimates show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.5 percent in November, down from 3.6 percent in October and down from 4.3 percent in November 2016.
“Kansas now has the largest number of people employed on record,” said state Labor Secretary Lana Gordon. “November’s employment increased by 1,235 individuals making the number of Kansans currently employed at 1,435,216.”
“Over the year job growth moved into positive territory after reporting declines in recent months. The state gained 2,900 jobs over the last 12 months, mostly from construction and professional and business services,” said senior labor economist, Tyler Tenbrink. “This is welcome news along with the unemployment rate falling to 3.5 percent from 3.6 percent last month.”
In Barton County, the November rate was 3.3 percent, a tick upward from 2.8 in October, but down .9 percent from November 2016. There were 397 unemployed Barton County residents in October compared to 460 in November and 580 in November 2016.
Seasonally adjusted job estimates indicate total Kansas nonfarm jobs increased by 3,100 from October. Private sector jobs, a subset of total nonfarm jobs, increased by 3,600 from the previous month.
Since November 2016, Kansas gained 2,900 seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs and 3,400 private sector jobs.
BLS revised seasonally adjusted preliminary total nonfarm job estimates for October upward by 1,400 jobs, from 1,407,100 to 1,408,500. Seasonally adjusted private sector jobs were revised upward by 1,400 jobs, from 1,151,200 to 1,152,600.
Nationwide
The national unemployment rate was unchanged from October at 4.1 percent but was 0.5 percentage point lower than in November 2016, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported last week.
Unemployment rates were lower in November in eight states, higher in two states, and stable in 40 states and the District of Columbia. Twenty-three states had jobless rate decreases from a year earlier, two states had increases, and 25 states and the District had little or no change.
Nonfarm payroll employment increased in six states in November 2017, decreased in two states, and was essentially unchanged in 42 states and the District of Columbia. Over the year, 27 states added nonfarm payroll jobs and 23 states and the District were essentially unchanged.
The December 2017 Kansas Labor Report will be released on Friday, January 19.
