TOPEKA – The state’s June seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.8 percent. This was up from 3.7 percent in May and down from 4.2 percent in June 2015.

The preliminary seasonally adjusted job estimates from the Kansas Department of Labor and Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate Kansas nonfarm jobs increased by 4,800 from May. Since last month, Kansas private sector jobs increased by 2,700. The largest private sector over the month job increase was in Education and Health Services.

In Barton County, the rate was higher than the state rate at 5.5 percent. That compares to 4.2 percent in May and 4.5 percent in June 2015.

Over the year, Kansas gained 2,900 seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs. Kansas gained 2,100 private sector jobs since June 2015.

“The June gains in private sector and total nonfarm employment brings the State back into positive growth over the year,” said Kansas Labor Market Information Director, Justin McFarland. “The service sector provided most of the growth, with education and health services contributing the greatest number of jobs gained.”

Kansas not seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs increased by 4,400, a 0.3 percent increase since June 2015. Not seasonally adjusted figures show Kansas gained 4,100 private sector jobs since last year, or 0.4 percent. The state gained 3,700 total not seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs over the month, or 0.3 percent. Since May, not seasonally adjusted private sector jobs increased by 12,500, or 1.1 percent.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics revised seasonally adjusted preliminary total nonfarm job estimates for May up by 600 jobs, from 1,398,000 to 1,398,600. Seasonally adjusted private sector jobs were revised up by 700 jobs, from 1,142,000 to 1,142,700.

Seasonally adjusted estimates for June show that the state’s labor force declined by 6,364 to 1,497,927. Of those in the labor force, 1,441,093 Kansans were employed and 56,834 were unemployed. This month’s net change in the labor force was attributable to 7,723 fewer Kansans counted as employed and 1,359 more unemployed.

Over the year, the labor force expanded by 2,656 persons, with an increase of 7,916 in employment and a decrease of 5,260 in unemployment.

“June estimates provided a more consistent picture of the Kansas labor market than last month,” said Emilie Doerksen, Labor Economist, Kansas Department of Labor. “The unemployment rate remains low at 3.8 percent, with both the establishment survey and the household survey indicating positive but tepid job growth over the year.”

The labor force participation rate was 67.5 percent, down from 67.8 percent in May and down from 67.8 percent last June. 

Information on procedures for producing Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS), e.g., labor force, estimates is available on the BLS website here.  

For more information on the unemployment insurance program including tax and claims data please refer to the KDOL Unemployment Insurance Weekly Review.

The July 2016 Labor Report will be released on Friday, Aug. 19.