The latest report from the Kansas Department of Labor indicates the April 2011 unemployment rate in the state was 6.3 percent, down from 7.1 percent in March 2011 and down from 6.8 percent in April 2010.
In Barton county, the jobless rate was 4.6, down from 5.4 in March and 5.6 in February. The county rate in April 2010 was 5.3.
“The April labor market report gives us the first bit of good news we have had for some time,” said Karin Brownlee, Kansas secretary of labor. Nonetheless, the state needs to continue focusing on job creation “so as to make this good news a trend in the Kansas economy.”
“Strong job growth in April has added confidence to our assessment that the Kansas job market is improving,” said Tyler Tenbrink, KDOL labor economist. “However, the long road of recovery will still remain volatile due to the challenges presented by signs of inflation and the uncertainty in the global economy.”
According to April 2011 estimates, Kansas gained 17,600 nonfarm jobs over the month, a 1.3 percent increase. Over the year, Kansas has lost 1,600 nonfarm jobs, a 0.1 percent decrease. Private sector jobs were down by 200 over the year.
The April 2011 seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.7 percent, down from 6.8 percent in March 2011 and down from 7.1 percent in April 2010.  Seasonally adjusted numbers have been revised to exclude yearly seasonal job fluctuations.
Out of a workforce of 16,004  in Barton County, there were 734 unemployed.
There were 17,296 initial claims for unemployment benefits in April 2011, down from 18,480 initial claims in March 2011 and down from 18,779 in April 2010. There were 199,138 continued claims in April 2011, down from 222,071 in March 2011 and down from 271,270 in April 2010. These numbers include Regular, Extended Benefit and Emergency Unemployment Compensation claims. Both types of benefits are federally funded through 2011.
State wide, six of the 11 major industries reported statewide over-the-year job losses. These losses were greatest in the following areas:
• Information services lost 2,700 jobs, an 8.5 percent decrease. These losses were primarily in telecommunications.
• Financial activities lost 2,300 jobs, a 3.2 percent decrease. In this industry, job losses were greatest in insurance carriers and related activities.
• Government lost 1,400 jobs, a 0.5 percent decrease, due to losses at the federal level.
Four of the 11 major industries in Kansas reported over-the-year job gains. These gains were primarily in the following areas: 
• Education and health services gained 4,300 jobs, a 2.4 percent increase. Most of these gains were in health care and social assistance.
• Manufacturing gained 1,700 jobs, a 1.1 percent increase. These gains were in both durable and non-durable goods manufacturing, most specifically in machinery manufacturing. 
Government was the only major industry to report statewide over-the-month job losses in April 2011, with a loss of 600 jobs, a 0.2 percent decrease. These losses were in local government.
Eight of the 11 major industries in Kansas reported over-the-month job gains. These gains were the greatest in the following areas:
• Leisure and hospitality gained 4,100 jobs, a 3.8 percent increase, primarily in food services and drinking places.
• Professional and business services gained 4,100 jobs, a 3.0 percent increase. The increases were greatest in administrative and support services, waste management and remediation services. 
• Construction gained 3,900 jobs, an 8.1 percent increase. These gains were primarily in specialty trade contractors.
The May 2011 Labor Report will be released June 17, 2011.