KDOL

Preliminary estimates reported by the Kansas Department of Labor and Bureau of Labor Statistics show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.5 percent in May. This was unchanged from April and up from 3.3 percent in May 2018.

“Kansas added 600 jobs in May with contributions from both the public and private sectors,” said Secretary Delía García. “Additionally, the previous month’s estimate for April was revised upward by 500 jobs. This puts the average monthly job growth over the last three months at 2,100.”

The jobless rate in Ellis County rose slightly, from 2.3 percent in April to 2.4 percent in May. Rooks County, which has seen a pair of significant economic blows with the woes of the Dessin Fournir and Plainville Livestock Commission, had a steep increase. Unemployment there jumped from 3.6 percent in April to 4.8 percent in May, by far the highest jobless rate in western Kansas.

Only Linn and Atchison counties in eastern Kansas had a higher unemployment rate in May than Roos County.

Seasonally adjusted job estimates indicate total Kansas nonfarm jobs increased by 600 from April. Private sector jobs, a subset of total nonfarm jobs, increased by 100 from the previous month.

“Kansas gained jobs in May despite the above average rainfall that contributed to a slowdown in construction projects. Offsetting these losses were gains in state government and retail trade. Overall, job growth is picking up after a slow start to the year,” said Senior Labor Economist, Tyler Tenbrink.

Since May 2018, Kansas gained 12,900 seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs and 10,300 private sector jobs.