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MEDIA INQUIRIES                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
Becky Shaffer
Communications Manager
KDOL.Communications@ks.gov                                                                                                                                                                              

Kansas Labor Market Report
October 2021
 
IMPORTANT NOTE: This release includes nonfarm jobs and labor force estimates for October 2021. Data collected for this report references the week including October 12th. Additional resources for affected workers and employers may be found at the Kansas Department of Labor’s website: www.dol.ks.gov and www.GetKansasBenefits.gov.
 
Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services (LMIS) division of the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.9 percent in October. This was unchanged from 3.9 percent in September and a decrease from 4.7 percent in October 2020.

“The Kansas unemployment rate remains steady at 3.9 percent. Additionally, for the fifth consecutive month Kansas nonfarm jobs estimates have increased,” said Secretary Amber Shultz. “October estimates indicate that the hardest hit industry during the pandemic, leisure and hospitality, has recovered nearly 82 percent of jobs since April 2020." 

Seasonally adjusted job estimates indicate total Kansas nonfarm jobs increased by 1,100 from September. Private sector jobs, a subset of total nonfarm jobs, increased by 2,500 from the previous month, while government decreased by 1,400.

“October job estimates for the private sector indicate a continuing upward trend for Kansas, with 2,500 jobs added over-the-month,” said Labor Economist Emilie Doerksen. “Current estimates are only 2.5 percent below pre-pandemic levels. Private sector job estimates for the U.S. are also 2.5 percent below February 2020 levels."

Since October 2020, Kansas seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 30,900. This change is due to an increase of 28,800 private sector jobs and 2,100 government jobs.

For the full news release click here.
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Audio clips of the Labor Market Report quotes by Secretary of Labor, Amber Shultz and Labor Economist, Emilie Doerksen are available online, courtesy of the Kansas Department of Labor.

                                                                                                                                                                 
        Amber Shultz, Kansas Secretary of Labor - Audio file                                                        Emilie Doerksen, Labor Economist - Audio file
                                                                                                      
Labor Report Documents
Jobs Data

Labor Force Data

Previous news releases
Note: Statistics are revised monthly; previous editions of the news releases have not been updated to include the most recent statistics.
 
For more information, visit www.dol.ks.gov

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