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 3.3% in August. This is an increase from 3.2% in July and an increase from 2.6% in August 2023, according to a media release.
Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment was unchanged from July. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs decreased by 3,500 over the month, while government increased by 3,500.
The unemployment rate in Saline County remained at 3.5 percent from July to August. Dickinson County saw their jobless rate increase from 4.3 to 6 percent in August.
“Estimates for nominal hourly earnings in the private sector have increased in Kansas,” said labor economist, Emilie
Doerksen. “In August nominal earnings growth exceeded inflation rates, resulting in a 2.6% increase in real hourly earnings compared to last year.”
Since August 2023 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 20,000. This change is due to an increase of 18,500 private sector jobs and an increase of 1,500 government jobs. Click here for the complete Kansas labor market information for August.