Preliminary estimates reported by the Kansas Department of Labor and Bureau of Labor Statistics show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.2 percent in September. This was unchanged from 3.2 percent in August and down from 3.3 percent in September 2018.

“Kansas job growth shows a 1.5 percent gain over the last year which is on par with the national job growth,” said Secretary Delía García. “Additionally, Kansas posted a significant gain in the size of the labor force adding 3,525 people in September.”

Jobless rates fell precipitously across northwest Kansas, with Ellis, Rawlins, Thomas, Wichita, Scott, Osborne, Gove, Norton and Lane counties all below 2 percent.

Unemployment is Ellis County fell nearly a full percentage point, from 2.8 percent in August to 1.9 percent in September.

The Rooks County jobless rate fell from 4.8 percent to 2.9 percent.

Seasonally adjusted job estimates indicate total Kansas nonfarm jobs decreased by 2,500 from August. Private sector jobs, a subset of total nonfarm jobs, decreased by 900 from the previous month.

“Preliminary estimates show Kansas lost 2,500 jobs in September. This follows five consecutive months of gains,” said Senior Labor Economist, Tyler Tenbrink. “Compared to last September, the rate of job growth in Kansas is in line with the nation.”

Since September 2018, Kansas gained 20,800 seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs and 16,200 private sector jobs.