Kansas Unemployment Rate Drops

Kansas’ unemployment rate declined for the fourth month straight in November, according to the Kansas Department of Labor.

Unemployment in Kansas now sits at 3.5 percent, down from 3.6 percent in October and 4.3 percent in November 2016. The drop came as the state gained 3,100 non-farm jobs over the month.

Labor Secretary Lana Gordon said in a news release Kansas now has the largest number of people employed on record, more than 1.4 million.

According to a release from the Kansas Department of Labor, the state gained 3,600 private sector jobs between October and November while it lost 500 government jobs. Most of those gains came in the last month. Since last year, the state has picked up 2,900 non-farm jobs — gaining 3,400 private sector jobs and losing 500 government jobs.

“Over the year job growth moved into positive territory after reporting declines in recent months,” senior labor economist Tyler Tenbrink said in the release. “The state gained 2,900 jobs over the last 12 months, mostly from construction and professional and business services.”