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 3.5% in November, a slight increase from 3.4% in October.

The unemployment rate in Clay County dropped 1.2%, from 4.3% in October to 3.1% in November. Across the area, the jobless rate dropped slightly in Dickinson County from 3.6% to 3.4%. Cloud County held steady at 3.7%. Marshall County dropped 0.1% to 2.9%. Republic County had a slight drop also, from 2.8% to 2.6% in a month. Washington County also saw a small drop from 2.7% to 2.6%.

Labor Economist, Emilie Doerksen said, “Over the last three months, Kansas has averaged 2,100 jobs added per month.”

Since November 2023 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 19,100. This change is due to an increase of 14,100 private sector jobs and an increase of 5,000 government jobs.