Preliminary estimates show the unemployment rate in Kansas at 3.5% in May. This was unchanged from 3.5% in April, and a decrease from 9% unemployment in May 2020.
“Kansas maintained a relatively low unemployment rate, at 3.5 percent in May,” said Kansas Department of Labor Secretary Amber Shultz. “The state has seen significant improvement over the past year as community spread of COVID19 has declined and the number of Kansans employed has increased.”
Total Kansas non-farm jobs decreased by 1,500 from April.
Private-sector jobs decreased by 2,000 from the previous month, while government increased by 500.
“As economic recovery continues in Kansas, we can see employment levels in multiple industries approach pre-pandemic levels,” said Labor Economist Todd Rilinger. “Five of the eleven major sectors have seen a recovery of over 70% of jobs lost due to the pandemic.”
Since May 2020, Kansas seasonally-adjusted total non-farm jobs have increased by 68,300. This change is due to an increase of 64,800 private sector jobs and 3,500 government jobs.
Since March 15, KDOL has paid out over 4.6 million weekly claims totaling over $3 billion between regular unemployment and the federal pandemic programs.