Highlights

• According to February 2011 estimates, Kansas lost 10,500 nonfarm jobs over the year, a 0.8 percent decrease.

 

• Despite increases in government jobs, private sector businesses lost 6,800 jobs over the month. This equates to a net loss of 1,900 nonfarm jobs in Kansas from January to February, a 0.1 percent decrease.

 

• The February 2011 unemployment rate in Kansas was 7.2 percent, down from 7.4 percent in January 2011 and down from 7.5 percent in February 2010.

 

• The February 2011 seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.8 percent, unchanged from January 2011 and down from 7.2 percent in February 2010.

 

Learn about the difference between seasonally adjusted and
   not seasonally adjusted numbers here.

 

• Eight of the 11 major industries reported statewide over-the-year job losses. These losses were highest in the following areas:
• Information services lost 3,000 jobs, a 9.3 percent decrease.These losses were primarily in telecommunications.
• Leisure and hospitality lost 2,700 jobs, a 2.5 percent decrease. These losses were primarily in food services and drinking places.
• Financial activities lost 2,200 jobs, a 3.1 percent decrease. In this industry, job losses were primarily in insurance carriers and related activities.
• Despite overall job losses, three major industries in Kansas reported over-the-year job gains. These gains were in the following areas:
• Education and health services gained 2,200 jobs, a 1.2 percent increase. Most of these gains were in health care services.
• Government gained 1,600 jobs, a 0.6 percent increase. These gains were mostly in universities/colleges at the state level.
• Mining and logging gained 500 jobs, a 6.3 percent increase.These gains were primarily in oil and gas production.
• Six major industries reported statewide over-the-month job losses. These losses were highest in the following areas:
• Trade, transportation and utilities lost 2,900 jobs, a 1.2 percent decrease. These losses were primarily in retail trade.
• Professional and business services lost 2,600 jobs, a 1.9 percent decrease. These loses were mostly in administrative and support services.
• Leisure and hospitality lost 2,000 jobs, a 1.9 percent decrease.These losses were primarily in food services and drinking places.
• Despite overall losses, four of the 11 major industries in Kansas reported over-the-month job gains. These gains were the highest in the following areas:
• Government gained 4,900 jobs, a 1.9 percent increase. Most of these jobs are typical seasonal fluctuations at universities and Unified School Districts.
• Education and health services gained 1,200 jobs, a 0.7 percent increase. These gains were primarily in health care and social services.
• Other services gained 600 jobs, a 1.2 percent increase. These gains were mostly in membership associations and organizations and personal care services.
• There were 16,331 initial claims for unemployment benefits in February, down from 32,089 initial claims in January 2011 and down from 21,498 in February 2010. There were 234,356 continued claims in February, down from 297,180 in January 2011 and down from 316,692 in February 2010. These numbers include Regular, Extended Benefit (EB) and Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) claims. EB and EUC benefits are federally funded through 2011.

The March 2011 Labor Report will be released April 19, 2011.

Quotes

Karin Brownlee, Kansas Secretary of Labor

"The continued decline in private sector jobs for Kansans is of great concern....." More

Quotes

Karin Brownlee, Kansas Secretary of Labor
"The continued decline in private sector jobs for Kansans is of great concern. We cannot sustain a situation in which government job growth is greater than private sector job growth."

Tyler Tenbrink, KDOL Labor Economist
"The decline of private sector jobs in February is noteworthy, which marks the second month of large declines. However, with the improving national economic environment, we are cautiously optimistic that stabilization of the Kansas labor market will occur in the near future."

Tyler Tenbrink, KDOL Labor Economist

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