Labor Market Report August 2020
IMPORTANT NOTE: This release includes nonfarm jobs and labor force estimates for August 2020. Data collected for this report references the week including August 12th. Reopening decisions were transferred to local officials on May 26, 2020. Counties following the ‘Ad Astra Plan to Reopen Kansas’ moved to Phase 3 on June 8, 2020, with recommendations to remain in Phase 3 issued on July 6, 2020. Additional resources for affected workers and employers may be found at the Kansas Department of Labor’s website: www.dol.ks.gov and www.GetKansasBenefits.gov.

TOPEKA, Kan. – Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services (LMIS) division of the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 6.9 percent in August. This was a decrease from 7.2 percent in July and an increase from 3.1 percent in August 2019.

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The Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) today announced that three new directors have joined the agency, while other key staff members have transitioned into new roles as part of a leadership restructuring within the agency. These moves are designed to enable the agency to work more efficiently and effectively with the ultimate goal of improving customer service and delivering benefits more quickly to the thousands of Kansans who are in need of financial support due to the pandemic. 

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Governor Laura Kelly announced her administration’s intent to apply for the Lost Wages Assistance program (LWA). The program is limited in scope and, due to federal restrictions, will only be available to those who are receiving at least $100 in unemployment benefits.

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TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) today announced that the agency will extend its call center hours for limited operations, including evenings and Saturdays. Weekday hours will be 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., beginning Monday, August 24. Saturday hours will be from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

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