Kansas unemployment rate holds at 3.8% in May
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas maintained its 3.8% unemployment rate in May, holding steady from the previous month as the state added jobs in manufacturing while shedding positions in professional services, according to data released Friday by state labor officials.
The jobless rate remained unchanged from April but ticked up from 3.5% recorded in May 2024, preliminary figures from the Kansas Department of Labor and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show.
Reno County mirrored the statewide trend with a 3.8% unemployment rate in May, representing a slight increase from both the previous month and the same period last year.
The state's labor force participation rate declined to 67%, signaling fewer Kansans are either employed or actively seeking work compared to previous months.
Kansas employers added 1,800 nonfarm jobs between April and May on a seasonally adjusted basis, with private sector growth of 1,900 positions offsetting a loss of 100 government jobs.
Manufacturing drove much of the monthly growth, adding 1,600 jobs, while professional and business services experienced the steepest decline with 700 positions eliminated.
Over the past year, Kansas has generated 12,500 new nonfarm jobs. The annual growth includes 2,200 private sector positions and a substantial expansion of 10,300 government jobs.
The monthly employment data is compiled by the Kansas Department of Labor's Labor Market Information Division in partnership with the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.
State officials track unemployment figures as a key economic indicator, with rates below 4% generally considered indicative of a healthy job market. The current rate places Kansas slightly above the national average and reflects broader economic trends affecting labor markets across the Midwest.
The manufacturing sector's strong performance in May aligns with ongoing industrial activity in the state, while the decline in professional services positions reflects broader shifts in the post-pandemic economy affecting white-collar employment nationwide.
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