TOPEKA – The unemployment rate in Ellis County fell from 3.1 percent in August to 2.7 percent in September, according to the Kansas Department of Labor.
The state’s September seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.4 percent, down from 4.6 percent in August and increased from 4.3 percent in September 2014.
Seasonally adjusted figures show Kansas gained 10,100 private sector jobs since last year, or 0.9 percent. Kansas nonfarm jobs increased by 8,700, or 0.6 percent, since September 2014. Since last month, Kansas gained 4,200 seasonally adjusted private sector jobs, or 0.4 percent. The state gained 4,900 seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs since August 2015.
“Kansas economic conditions moved in the right direction, with the unemployment rate dropping to 4.4 percent this month. Unemployment claims remained low, and the private sector added more than 10,000 jobs over the year,” Kansas Secretary of Labor, Lana Gordon said.
Most of northwest Kansas posted extremely low jobless rates, with Sheridan County among the state’s lowest at 2.1 percent. Hamilton County in southwest Kansas posted a minuscule 1.5 percent unemployment rate, while Greeley County recorded 1.5 percent.
Every other northwest Kansas counties also recorded a decrease in unemployment in September. Click the map above for details.
Not seasonally adjusted figures show Kansas gained 10,200 private sector jobs since last year, or 0.9 percent. Kansas nonfarm jobs increased by 8,200, a 0.6 percent increase since September 2014. Since August, private sector jobs decreased by 3,000, or 0.3 percent. However, the state gained 19,800 total nonfarm jobs over the month, or 1.4 percent.
“The construction industry continues to be a major contributor to growth in the state, both in jobs and hourly wages. Due to strong growth in specialty trade contractors, construction jobs have increased by 9.5 percent over the year and average hourly wages have increased by 6 percent,” Emilie Doerksen, Labor Economist, Kansas Department of Labor said.
The October Labor Report will be released on Friday, Nov. 20.