The Kansas unemployment rate remained steady at 3.3% in September, ending a five-month streak of increases. Despite this plateau, the number of Kansans without jobs increased from 40,700 in March to 50,400 in September. The state did see growth in nonfarm payroll, with 2,700 new jobs added in September – 1,900 in the government sector and 800 in the private sector. In the past year, Kansas added 16,500 private-sector jobs and 2,700 government positions.
The annual Kansas Economic Report highlighted long-term trends in the labor market, showing an increase in the state’s labor force to 1.51 million and a record number of employed Kansans at 1.47 million. The jobless rate averaged 2.7% in 2023, below the national average of 3.6%. The report also pointed to growth in health care, transportation, and computer-related occupations in the state.
Kansas’s exports reached a record $14.1 billion in sales, with significant growth in the transportation equipment and processed foods sectors. However, exports to key trade partners Mexico, Canada, and Japan declined. Lieutenant Governor David Toland emphasized the importance of attracting new business investment while also focusing on retaining or recruiting labor talent.
Overall, the report highlighted Kansas’s resilience in economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic but also pointed to demographic challenges like a shrinking younger population. Workforce development and attracting new talent were identified as key factors in sustaining the state’s economic growth moving forward.
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