Topeka MSA Unemployment Holds Steady at 3.4%
County outperforms state's 3.8% rate as job market stays tight
Topeka MSA recorded an unemployment rate of 3.4 percent in November, below the statewide rate of 3.8 percent and well under the national average of 4.6 percent, according to data released by the Kansas Department of Labor. The local jobless rate fell from 3.6 percent a year ago, representing an improvement of 0.2 percentage points as employers continued hiring.
The area's labor force totaled 118,937 workers in November, with 114,894 employed and 4,043 actively seeking work. As a metropolitan statistical area, Topeka MSA serves as an economic anchor for surrounding communities. State government and health care remain the region's largest employment sectors.