Non-seasonally adjusted unemployment numbers for surrounding counties:
January 2015 (statewide 4.2 percent)
Barton – 4.1
Ellsworth County – 2.8
Pawnee County – 3.9
Rice County – 3.5
Rush County – 3.6
Russell County – 3.7
Stafford County – 4.1
December 2014 (statewide 4.2 percent)
Barton – 3
Ellsworth County – 2.5
Pawnee County – 3.2
Rice County – 2.7
Rush County – 3.1
Russell County – 3.3
Stafford County – 3
January 2014 (statewide 4.7 percent)
Barton – 3.8
Ellsworth County – 2.6
Pawnee County – 3.5
Rice County – 3.6
Rush County – 4.4
Russell County – 4.4
Stafford County – 4.2
December 2013 (statewide 4.5 percent)
Barton – 3.3
Ellsworth County – 2.7
Pawnee County – 3.5
Rice County – 3.1
Rush County – 3.5
Russell County – 3.7
Stafford County – 3.3
Labor Market Report Highlights January 2015
Learn about the difference between seasonally adjusted and not seasonally adjusted numbers here.
Labor Force and Unemployment
• The January 2015 seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.2 percent, unchanged from December and down from 4.7 percent in January 2014.
• The January 2015 not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Kansas was 4.6 percent, up from 3.8 percent in December, and down from 5.2 percent one year ago.
• There were 17,894 initial claims for unemployment benefits in January 2015, down from 18,577 in December and up from 15,709 in January 2014. There were 103,232 continued claims in January, up from 97,398 the previous month and down from 108,341 in January 2014. These numbers include all available programs.
• Over the year, the number of people employed increased by 17,489 individuals, or 1.2 percent. A total of 1,439,941 Kansans were employed in January 2015.
• The number of unemployed has decreased by 6,496 persons since last year, a 9.3 percent decline.
Jobs Data
Seasonally Adjusted
• The state added 17,100 seasonally adjusted private sector jobs over the year, a 1.5 percent gain. Kansas gained 17,300 seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs since January 2014, a 1.3 percent increase.
• Seasonally adjusted private sector jobs decreased by 1,500 since last month, a 0.1 percent decline. Since December, the state lost 2,600 seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs, a 0.2 percent decrease.
Not Seasonally Adjusted
• Kansas gained 19,300 private sector jobs since January 2014, a 1.7 percent increase. The state gained 19,000 nonfarm jobs over the year, a 1.4 percent increase.
• Private sector jobs decreased by 24,100 since December because of seasonal factors, a 2.1 percent decline. Over the month, Kansas declined by 33,400 nonfarm jobs, a 2.4 percent decrease, also for seasonal reasons.
Industry Breakdown
• Eight of the 11 major industries in Kansas reported over the year job gains. These gains were greatest in:
– Trade, transportation and utilities increased by 7,400 jobs, a 2.9 percent gain, with growth throughout the sector.
– Leisure and hospitality gained 4,500 jobs, a 3.9 percent increase. The gains were in accommodation and food services.
– Professional and business services added 4,500 jobs, a 2.8 percent gain, with increases throughout the sector.
• Three of the 11 major industries reported statewide over the year job losses. These were in:
– Manufacturing declined by 1,700 jobs, or 1.1 percent. The loss was mostly in durable goods manufacturing.
– Mining and logging decreased by 300 jobs, or 2.9 percent.
– Government declined by 300 jobs, or 0.1 percent. The losses were at the local government level.
• Two of the 11 major industries in Kansas reported over the month job gains. The gains were in:
– Financial activities increased by 300 jobs, or 0.4 percent. The gains were in finance and insurance.
– Information gained 100 jobs, a 0.4 percent increase.
• Nine of the 11 major industries in Kansas reported a loss over the month. The losses were greatest in:
– Government declined by 9,300 jobs, or 3.5 percent, with seasonal losses at all levels.
– Professional and business services decreased by 5,200 jobs, or 3 percent, with losses mostly in administrative and support, waste management, and remediation services.
– Manufacturing declined by 4,700 jobs, or 2.9 percent, with losses throughout the sector.
Private Sector Earnings
Not Seasonally Adjusted
• Private sector average weekly earnings increased by $30.54, or 4.1 percent, since last year, to a total of $771.06.
• Manufacturing increased the most in earnings since last year. Average weekly earnings in manufacturing increased by $81.62, or 8.8 percent, since January 2014, to a total of $1,014.31.
• Trade, transportation and utilities also had notable increases. Average weekly earnings increased by $45.07, or 6.6 percent, since last year, to a total of $724.45.
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Labor’s Division of Labor Market Information Services (LMIS) released last week benchmarked 2014 data along with the January 2015 Labor Report.
These revisions affect previous job reports and are particularly noteworthy because of their scope, state labor officials said. Final 2014 estimates showed marked increases from previously released estimates.
“The rate of private sector job growth in Kansas accelerated in 2014 to 1.9 percent. This is the fastest rate of job growth since 2007. Prior to 2007, the state had not experienced this rate of job growth since 1998,” said Lana Gordon, secretary of labor.
“The Kansas labor market ended 2014 on a positive note. Final job numbers released last Friday show the state gained 20,800 annual private sector jobs from 2013 to 2014, which is 1.9 percent growth. The annual unemployment rate improved from an average 5.3 percent for 2013 to 4.5 percent for last year,” said Tyler Tenbrink, Senior Labor Economist.
In addition to 2014 revisions, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has also revised job estimates going back to 2010 due to new data available from the Census Bureau. New Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) boundaries are also being implemented.
LMIS, in conjunction with BLS, produces monthly estimates of jobs on employers’ payrolls, the number of Kansans working and unemployment rates for the State, MSAs and counties. These estimates come from a variety of surveys conducted by BLS and the Census Bureau. Each March, the previous year’s estimates are benchmarked and revised against actual counts of employers’ tax reports and other data.
For more information about benchmarking and the sources of data, contact LMIS at laborstats@dol.ks.gov.
January 2015 report
The state’s January seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.2 percent, unchanged from December and down from 4.7 percent in January 2014.
Seasonally adjusted figures show Kansas gained 17,100 private sector jobs since last January, or 1.5 percent. Kansas nonfarm jobs increased by 17,300 jobs, a 1.3 percent increase since January 2014. After upward revisions of December 2014 numbers, Kansas lost 1,500 seasonally adjusted private sector jobs in January, or 0.1 percent. The state declined by 2,600 seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs, a 0.2 percent decrease since last month.
In Barton County, the rate was 4.1 for January compared to 3 this past December. This is a decrease from January 2014 when it was 3.8 which followed a rate of 3.3 in December 2013.
“New data show additional improvement over 2014’s preliminary labor market estimates. Key indicators such as the State’s unemployment rate, the number of Kansans working, and private sector job growth all showed substantial progress over the year. Plus, January’s increase in workers’ earnings show the State is poised for continued growth in 2015,” said Justin McFarland, Director of Labor Market Information Services.
Not seasonally adjusted figures show Kansas gained 19,300 private sector jobs since last year, or 1.7 percent. Kansas nonfarm jobs increased by 19,000 jobs, a 1.4 percent increase since January 2014. Kansas lost 24,100 private sector jobs in January, or 2.1 percent, because of seasonal factors. The state declined by 33,400 total nonfarm jobs, a 2.4 percent decrease since last month.
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in January was 4.6 percent, up from 3.8 percent in December and down from 5.2 percent one year ago.
There were 17,894 initial claims for unemployment benefits in January 2015, down from 18,577 in December and up from 15,709 in January 2014. There were 103,232 continued claims in January, up from 97,398 the previous month and down from 108,341 in January 2014. These numbers include all available programs.
Data provided is preliminary and subject to monthly revisions and annual benchmarks by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Information on procedures for producing Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) estimates is available on the BLS website here and procedures for producing jobs estimates through the Current Employment Statistics (CES) estimates is available on the BLS website.
The February 2015 Labor Report will be released on Friday, March 20.
