Dec 17, 2022

Jobless rate up slightly in Barton County

Posted Dec 17, 2022 10:30 PM

Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services division of the Kansas Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 2.8% in November. This was unchanged from 2.8% in October and unchanged from 2.8% in November 2021.

“There was little change in the labor force this month, resulting in the unemployment rate remaining at 2.8%,” said Secretary Amber Shultz. “This is also unchanged from last November.”  

In central Kansas, several counties report a jobless rates below 2 percent. Barton County saw unemployment increase from 2.5 percent in October to 2.6 percent in November.  Rush County saw a similar increase. 

Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 400 from October. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs decreased by 1,000 over the month, while government increased by 600.

“Total nonfarm job estimates for Kansas indicate a small decline over the month in November,” said Labor Economist Emilie Doerksen. “However, due to strong growth in October and gains earlier this year, current estimates are 2.7% higher than last November.”

Since November 2021 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 36,700. This change is due to an increase of 34,600 private sector jobs and an increase of 2,100 government jobs.