Category: Employment

Statewide virtual job fair offered today

The KansasWorks Virtual Job Fair takes place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 19. The virtual fair will focus on all state agency job openings.

“KansasWorks is hard at work every day connecting Kansans with employers looking to hire, and I’m pleased they are focusing on opportunities with state agencies,” Gov. Laura Kelly said. “This job fair provides Kansans the opportunity to work in meaningful and good-paying jobs with great benefits, allowing them to provide a prosperous future for their families.”

The state’s 98 government agencies have approximately 900 full-time, part-time and internship opportunities available across the state. Kansas has conducted 17 virtual job fairs since the beginning of 2020, showcasing jobs from hundreds of employers across the state. More than 1,500 people have participated in the state’s job fair events this year.

“Recruiting top talent to state agencies is a high priority for the Kelly Administration,” Lt. Gov. and Commerce Secretary David Toland said. “We need dynamic and visionary individuals to join our team and help provide critical services to Kansans across the state.”

The online job fairs allow those looking for work to fill out applications, chat live and interview virtually with participating agencies. To participate in the virtual job fair, regardless of previous participation, registration is required. Register at https://app.premiervirtual.com/events/f5b47c20-6d1a-4035-9fd5-ae1bbcd2b3e5/state-of-kansas-agencies-government-jobs-virtual-job-fair-october-19th.

Candidates will be able to participate via any digital device, including a computer, tablet or mobile phone.

Kansas unemployment rate holds steady at 2.4% in July, economy adds private-sector jobs

by Tim Carpenter, Kansas Reflector

Topeka — The unemployment rate in Kansas remained at 2.4% in July with growth of 4,000 private-sector jobs and a decline of 500 in the government workforce.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Kansas Department of Labor said a pair of monthly surveys — one of employers and the other of households — indicated Kansas’ jobless rate stood at 2.4% in July and June.

The rate in 2022 has flowed from a high of 2.6% in January to a low of 2.3% in May.

“Kansas and the U.S. have maintained relatively low unemployment rates so far in 2022, with Kansas remaining at 2.4% and the U.S. reaching 3.5% in July,” said Amber Shultz, secretary of the state Department of Labor.

In 2021, the Kansas unemployment rate ranged from 3.8% in January to 2.8% in December. During July of last year, Kansas had a rate of 3.4%.

The seasonally adjusted job estimate for Kansas showed total nonfarm payroll, which includes private sector and government employers, increased by 3,500 in July. That number was the result of 4,000 additional private-sector workers combined with 500 fewer government workers.

Emilie Doerksen, a state labor department economist, said the Kansas manufacturing industry expanded by 1,500 jobs. The growth also reflected 1,000 hires in the trade, transportation and utility sector, she said.

Since July 2021, nonfarm employment has risen by 13,500 in Kansas. It represented 16,700 additional private-sector jobs and a reduction of 3,200 government employees.

The federal labor bureau reported July jobless figures of Kansas’ four border states, compared to June: Nebraska, 2% in July, up from 1.9% in June; Missouri, 2.5%, down from 2.8%; Oklahoma, 3%, up from 2.9%; and Colorado, 3.3%, down from 3.4%.

Kansas Reflector stories, www.kansasreflector.com, may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.
See more at https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/kansas-unemployment-rate-holds-steady-at-2-4-in-july-economy-adds-private-sector-jobs/

Unemployment rate lowest ever in Kansas

Gov. Laura Kelly today announced that Kansas hit the lowest unemployment rate in the state’s recorded history, at 2.3%.

Unemployment continues to decline in the state, even as the unemployment rate nationally holds flat. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Kansas has the sixth lowest unemployment rate in the country relative to other states.

“My administration has worked to ensure that every Kansan who wants a job, can have a job,” Gov. Laura Kelly said. “I’m proud that we have achieved the lowest unemployment rate in our state’s history at 2.3%, over a full percentage point below the nation’s unemployment rate. We will continue breaking economic records by prioritizing job creation, business investment, and workforce development.”

Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services division of the Kansas Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 2.3% in May, a decrease from 2.4% in April and a decrease from 3.4% this time last year. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate in the United States as a whole has remained at 3.6% for three consecutive months, a rate significantly higher than Kansas estimates.

Kansas began keeping records of monthly unemployment rates in January 1976.

Since the start of the Kelly administration, Kansas has secured 654 economic development projects worth $8,943,214,898.00 in capital investment and has retained and created 43,111 jobs.

According to Kansas Department of Labor statistics, the Wyandotte County unemployment rate was 3.2 percent in May 2022 as compared to 2.9 percent in April 2022. The May 2022 rate represents 2,525 persons who are unemployed. One year ago, in May 2021, the Wyandotte County unemployment rate was 5.3 percent.

The Kansas City, Kansas, unemployment rate was 3.3 percent in May 2022 as compared to 2.9 percent in April 2022. The May 2022 rate represents 2,349 persons who are unemployed. In May 2021, the unemployment rate was 5.4 percent in Kansas City, Kansas.