Nonfarm Wage and Salary Employment. December 2006 nonfarm payroll employment was 431,000 for the Kansas portion of the Kansas City Metropolitan Statistical Area, down 1,000 from November. Professional and business services dropped 600, with losses primarily in temporary employment services firms. Downturns primarily in food service and drinking establishments made leisure and hospitality fall 600. Inclement weather caused natural resources and construction to lose 500. Government fell 400, with losses at federal and local levels. Financial activities slipped 100. Education and health services dipped 100 as additions in health care firms were overshadowed by decreases in private education. Seasonal hiring in retail and wholesale trade caused trade, transportation and utilities to gain 800. Increases across the sector allowed manufacturing to rise 300. More jobs at publishing firms added 200 to information. There was no change in other services.

Over the Year Changes. The Kansas City MSA wage and salary employment had a net growth of 2,400 since December 2005. Education and health services rose 1,100, with additions in health care and social service firms. Professional and business services gained 800 due to more jobs in technical services and management firms. Manufacturing was up 700, with increases in both durable and nondurable goods manufacturing. Expansion at the state and local levels caused government to jump 500. Natural resources and construction grew 300 from long term projects that began during the past year. Growth in food service and drinking establishments led leisure and hospitality to rise 200. Other services was up 100. The trade, transportation and utilities sector dropped 1,000 with decreases in general merchandise stores and transportation and warehouse firms. Downturns in real estate firms caused financial activities to lose 200. Information slipped 100, with losses in telecommunication firms.