Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information (LMI) division of the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.8% in January. This is unchanged from 3.8% in December and an increase from 3.1% in January 2024. The labor force participation rate for Kansas increased to 67.3% in January.
Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 3,600 from December. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs decreased by 2,600 over the month, while government decreased by 1,000. The largest job gains in the private sector were in trade, transportation, and utilities (+800 jobs) and manufacturing (+600 jobs). The largest decrease was in leisure and hospitality (-3,800 jobs).
Since January 2024 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 7,800. This change is due to an increase of 7,200 private sector jobs and an increase of 600 government jobs.
For Reno County, the January 2025 unemployment rate was 3.9 percent, which is up one-half percent from December's rate of 3.4percent and up six-tenths of one percent from January 2024 rate of 3.3 percent