Kansas unemployment rate remains steady at 2.4% in July as the economy creates private sector jobs

TOPEKA — The jobless rate in Kansas stayed at 2.4% in July, with a growth of 4,000 jobs in the private sector and a decline of 500 in government employees.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Kansas Department of Labor said two monthly surveys — one of employers and the other of households — showed Kansas’ unemployment rate was 2.4% in July and June.

The rate in 2022 has flown from a high of 2.6% in January to a low of 2.3% in May.

“Kansas and the US have maintained relatively low unemployment rates so far in 2022, with Kansas staying at 2.4% and the US hitting 3.5% in July,” said Amber Shultz, Secretary of the State Department of Labor.

In 2021, Kansas’ unemployment rate ranged from 3.8% in January to 2.8% in December. In July of last year, Kansas had a rate of 3.4%.

The seasonally adjusted employment estimate for Kansas showed that total nonfarm payrolls, which includes private and government employers, rose 3,500 in July. That number was the result of 4,000 additional private sector employees combined with 500 fewer government employees.

Emilie Doerksen, economist for the state Department of Labor, said the manufacturing industry in Kansas grew 1,500 jobs. The growth also reflected 1,000 new hires in the trade, transport and utility sectors, she said.

Since July 2021, Kansas nonfarm payrolls have increased by 13,500. It meant adding 16,700 private sector jobs and cutting 3,200 government employees.

The Federal Labor Office reported July unemployment numbers for Kansas’ four border states compared to June: Nebraska, 2% in July, versus 1.9% in June; Missouri, 2.5% down from 2.8%; Oklahoma, 3% vs. 2.9%; and Colorado, 3.3%, down from 3.4%.