Ellis County’s unemployment rate was 3.3 percent in April, according to statistics released by the Kansas Department of Labor.

The jobless rate fell slightly, from 3.1 percent in March.

The state’s April seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.3 percent, up from 4.2 percent in March and down from 4.5 percent in April 2014.

“The number of jobs in manufacturing has fallen by 3,100 from the same month last year. This decline is partly due to temporary layoffs that took place during the survey reference week,” said Tyler Tenbrink, senior labor economist. “Also, lower gas prices have lead to weakness in the oil and gas drilling industry. These factors combined have resulted in slower overall job growth in Kansas over the year.”

Unemployment across northwest Kansas remained low, with Sheridan, Rawlins and Norton counties posting 2.5 percent jobless rates.

Rooks County (4.9 percent) and Smith County (4.7 percent) posted the highest unemployment rates in northwest Kansas.

Click the map at right for a county-by-county breakdown.