Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services Division of the Kansas Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.6% in December, a slight increase from 3.5% in November.

The unemployment rate in Clay County slightly increased from 3.1% in November to 3.3% in December. Across the area, the jobless rate increased by 2.1% in Dickinson County from 3.4% to 5.5%. Cloud County held steady at 3.7%. Marshall County increased 0.2%, to 31%. Republic County had a slight drop, from 2.6% to 2.2% in a month. Washington County also saw a small drop from 2.6% to 2.4%.

Emilie Doerksen, Labor Economist said, “Kansas ended the year with little change in the labor market. Total nonfarm jobs increased by 1,200 over the month while private sector jobs increased by 500 over the month.”