MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
The Kansas Department of Labor has released its September 2025 labor report, showing stable unemployment levels but modest shifts in employment across sectors.
Preliminary estimates from the Kansas Department of Labor’s Labor Market Information Division and the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that Kansas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 3.8% in September. That rate was unchanged from August and also matched the rate reported in September 2024.
The report shows continued improvement in workforce engagement, with the labor force participation rate increasing to 67.1% in September.
Seasonally adjusted job estimates indicate that total nonfarm payroll employment in Kansas declined by 300 jobs from August. Total nonfarm payroll includes both private sector and government employment. Private sector employment fell by 2,000 jobs over the month, while government employment increased by 1,700 jobs.
Within the private sector, the largest job gains were reported in financial activities, which added 600 positions. The largest job losses occurred in professional and business services.
On a year-over-year basis, Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment declined by 1,700 jobs since September 2024. That change reflects a loss of 2,500 private sector jobs, partially offset by an increase of 800 government jobs.
All Bureau of Labor Statistics operations were suspended from October 1 through November 12, 2025, as a result of the shutdown.
Because of the suspension, there will not be a separate Kansas labor report for October. The November 2025 Kansas labor report is scheduled for release on January 7. The release schedule for the December report has not yet been finalized.