TOPEKA, Kan. – Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services (LMIS) division of the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 2.9% in October. This is an increase from 2.8% in September and a decrease from 3.0% in October 2022.
“There was a small increase in the unemployment rate for Kansas, edging up to 2.9% in October,” said labor economist, Emilie Doerksen. “However, there was no change in the labor force participation rate at 66.7%, which remains significantly higher than the U.S. labor force participation rate at 62.7%.”
Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 3,200 from September. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobsincreased by 2,400 over the month, while government increased by 800.
The unemployment rate in Barton County is up from 2.7 percent in September to 3 percent in October. The rate is also up slightly in Pawnee, Rice, Rush counties and across the region.
Since October 2022 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 15,600. This change is due to an increase of 8,300 private sector jobs and an increase of 7,300 government jobs.