Preliminary estimates reported by the Kansas Department of Labor and Bureau of Labor Statistics show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.4 percent in May. This was unchanged from April and down from 3.6 percent in May 2017.

“The number of unemployed Kansans looking for work dropped below 50,000 for the first time since May of 2000,” said Secretary Lana Gordon.

Northwest Kansas jobless rates remain extremely low, with unemployment rates in Ellis County at 2.3 percent. Trego, Rooks and Ness posted unemployment rates slight above 3 percent, while Norton and Logan counties reported a flat 2 percent jobless rate.

Seasonally adjusted job estimates indicate total Kansas nonfarm jobs increased by 1,900 from April. Private sector jobs, a subset of total nonfarm jobs, increased by 1,800 from the previous month.

“Preliminary estimates for May are encouraging. Job growth over the year matched the U.S. growth rate at 1.6 percent,” said Senior Labor Economist, Tyler Tenbrink. “The state added 7,100 jobs over the last 12 months in the professional and business services industry, an industry with an average wage of over $27 per hour.”

Since May 2017, Kansas gained 22,700 seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs and 20,700 private sector jobs.