Highlights

• According to September 2009 estimates, Kansas businesses lost 59,700 jobs in the past year, a 4.3 percent decrease.
  
  
• The September 2009 unemployment rate was 6.9 percent, down from 7.2 percent in August and up from 4.6 percent in September 2008.
  
  
• Most major industries reported statewide over-the-year losses. These losses were highest in the following areas:
  
  
• Manufacturing lost 26,400 jobs over the year, a 14.1 percent decrease. The majority of losses in this industry were in durable goods manufacturing, specifically in aerospace production.



• Professional and business services lost 13,400 jobs over the year, a 9 percent decrease. The majority of losses in this area were in administrative and support services, and professional, scientific and technical services.



• Trade, transportation and utilities lost 8,700 jobs over the year, a 3.3 percent decrease. The majority of losses in this industry were in retail trade.



• The mining and logging industry reported modest job gains despite overall state losses.
  
  
• There were 17,501 initial claims for unemployment benefits in September 2009, down from 20,677 initial claims for August and up from 12,703 in September 2008.
  
  
• There were 180,202 continued claims for unemployment benefits in September 2009, down from 222,219 continued claims in August and up from 109,253 in September 2008.
  
  
• There were 5,186 initial claims and 95,519 continued claims for Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) benefits in September 2009, up from 4,653 initial claims and down from 112,473 continued claims for EUC benefits in August 2009. These claims are in addition to the monthly initial and continued claims numbers.
  
  
• The October 2009 Labor Report will be released November 20, 2009.
  

Labor Report Data Bank

Overview        PDF       Excel

Unemployment in Kansas and MSAs    PDF       Excel      Historical Data

Nonfarm Jobs in Kansas and MSAs    PDF       Excel      Historical Data

County Unemployment Map    HTML

County Unemployment Rates    PDF       Excel

Quotes

Labor Economist Tyler Tenbrink
"Kansas continues to experience overall weakness in the labor market, as evidenced by continued declines in nearly all industries over the year. Some industries, such as manufacturing and professional and business services, are reporting substantial declines. Overall, the effects of the recession are still being felt in a significant way across the state."

This is Tyler Tenbrink, with the Kansas Department of Labor.

Audio clip for radio stations by Jonathan Larance.
WMA
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