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Kansas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 3.8% in May, according to preliminary estimates from the Kansas Department of Labor and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The rate remains unchanged from April but is slightly higher than the 3.5% reported in May 2024. The state’s labor force participation rate declined to 67.0%.
Total nonfarm payroll employment in Kansas rose by 1,800 jobs from April to May. This includes both private sector and government positions. Private sector jobs increased by 1,900, while government jobs declined by 100. The manufacturing industry saw the largest monthly gain, adding 1,600 jobs. The biggest decline was in professional and business services, which lost 700 jobs.
Over the past year, Kansas added 12,500 nonfarm jobs. This includes a gain of 2,200 jobs in the private sector and 10,300 in government employment, reflecting ongoing public sector growth across the state.