10.20.23 – Hays Post –Kansas Department of Labor
The unemployment rate in Ellis County and across the region is down slightly for September, according to the latest labor report.
The jobless rate in Ellis County dropped from 2.4 percent in August to 2.2 percent in September.
Rooks County unemployment dropped by .5 percent to 2.8 percent. Trego County unemployment dropped by. 6 percent to 3 percent. Russell and Rush counties’ jobless rates were 2.7 percent.
No county in the northwest region of the state had a jobless rate of more than 3.1 percent.
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 percent in September.
This is an increase from 2.7 percent in August and a decrease from 2.9 percent in September 2022.
“The September unemployment rate was 2.8 percent,” said Secretary Amber Shultz. “This was a decrease from 2.9 percent a year ago and unchanged from the end of the second quarter.”
Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 4,200 from August. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs increased by 4,000 over the month, while government increased by 200.
“Kansas nonfarm jobs showed little change over the month in September,” said labor economist, Nathan Kessler. “Despite relatively flat growth throughout 2023, Kansas has added 22,200 jobs since September 2022.”
Since September 2022 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 22,200. This change is due to an increase of 16,000 private sector jobs and an increase of 6,200 government jobs.
Complete Kansas labor market information for September is available here.
The October 2023 Labor Report will be released on Friday, Nov. 17.