The Kansas Department of Labor reports the state’s February unemployment rate of 3.9 percent is unchanged from January and up a tenth of a point from a year ago. Due to the federal government shutdown last fall, employment numbers are catching up from the months when reports were not issued.
The seasonally adjusted numbers indicate total non-farm payroll for February declined by 3,800 from January, with the largest job sector losses in trade, transportation and Utilities which was down by 1,800 jobs. The largest job gains came in the leisure and hospitality sector.
Labor force participation in January for Kansas decreased to 67.8 percent. Over the past year seasonally adjusted non-farm jobs were up 1,100, with private sector jobs up 1.300 and government jobs down 200.
Southeast Kansas continues to have among the highest unemployment rates in Kansas, Bourbon County topping the February rates at 6.1 percent, with Woodson and Wilson County both at six percent. Allen County’s February rate was at 4.8 percent, Anderson County at 4.6 percent, Linn County at 5.5 percent, and Neosho County at a southeast Kansas low four percent.
Other southeast Kansas county rates were 4.3 percent in Cherokee County, 4,4 percent in Crawford and Labette counties, five percent in Chautauqua, Greenwood and Montgomery counties, and 5.1 percent in Elk County.
