NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Wichita State University's Center for Economic Development and Business Research released an updated Kansas Employment Forecast last week.
"Our forecast for the rest of Kansas is actually stronger than their natural rate of growth," said Jeremy Hill, director, Barton School of Business Center for Economic Development and Business Research at Wichita State. "We're still thinking the whole state and the non-metro areas of the state are going to be in an expanding phase."
Production: The overall production sector is projected to see a minor growth of 0.2%. The natural resources, mining, and construction sectors are anticipated to expand by 3.4%, reflecting the region's continued emphasis on these industries.
Services: Representing a significant portion of the employment segment, the services sector is projected to grow by 0.3% in 2024. The education & health services segment remains promising, with a forecasted growth of 0.3%.
Government: This sector is anticipated to see a growth of 0.4% in 2024, indicating stable government employment opportunities and public sector initiatives.
"Areas like Hutchinson are expected to be a lot stronger," Hill said. "Particularly Hutchinson, because of the manufacturing and production sector, in our forecast it's very strong growth."
The additional dollars pumped into the economy have resulted in businesses wanting to grow to keep up with inflation.
"We've seen, over the last couple of years, lots of investments," Hill said. "That's really changing the trajectory of the state. We've made these investments in a lot of manufacturing. Now that we've made those investments, companies are coming, we're seeing them creating new jobs and that will have some value bringing new people into the economy, which then spills over into the broader economy."
Hill admits that in order to have the people to fill the jobs forecast, the state will have to be more competitive in attracting labor and preventing outmigration of those that grew up in the state and would be willing to stay for the right job.
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