Labette County’s jobless rate increases, state’s stays the same

Kansas’ jobless rate was 2.5% in January 2022.

The KDOL released its labor market report last week.

Of the 9,280 people eligible to work, 8,983 had jobs and 297 did not in Labette County in January 2023. The county’s jobless rate was 2.8% in January 2022.

Across Kansas, total nonfarm jobs (government and private sector occupations) went up 8,500 from December, the KDOL reported.

Specifically, private sector jobs went up 4,400 and government occupations increased by 4,100.

Overall, the state had 38,300 additional private sector jobs last year, which was an increase of 3.4%, according to Emilie Doerksen.

“This strong growth continued in January 2023 with preliminary estimates for the private sector increasing by 4,400,” she said in the KDOL report.

In total, nonfarm jobs went up by 48,900, KDOL reported, since January 2022.

Crawford County’s rate went up from 2.6% in December to 3.1% in January; that compares to the January 2022 rate of 2.8%. Of the county’s workforce at 18,962, 18,365 had jobs and 597 did not in January 2023.

Cherokee County saw its rate go up from 2.4% in December to 2.9% in January. The rate in January 2022 was 2.4%. Of the 9,772 eligible workers, 9,484 had jobs and 288 were unemployed in January 2023.

Neosho County’s rate increased from 3.2% in December to 3.8% in January. Of the 6,029 eligible workers, 5,802 had jobs and 227 did not in January 2023. The January 2022 unemployment rate was 3.4%.

To the east, Montgomery County saw an increase from 2.8% to 3.3% (December to January). The jobless rate in January 2022 was 3.1% there. Of the 14,512 eligible workers in Montgomery County in January 2023, 14,035 were employed and 477 did not.

Wilson County’s rate jumped from 3% in December to 3.5% in January. The county’s rate in January 2022 was 3.5%. Of the 3,663 that made up the county’s workforce two months ago, 3,533 had jobs and 130 did not.