The employment situation in Kansas continued to improve in June 2020 as the response to the pandemic continued to affect the economy.
Data released today from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, part of the United States Department of Labor, shows the effect of the pandemic and the response to it on employment in Kansas for June 2020.
(Click charts and tables for larger versions.)
Using seasonally adjusted data, from May 2020 to June 2020, nonfarm employment in Kansas rose by 30,200 (2.3 percent). Over the year, the number of Kansas nonfarm jobs for June 2020 was lower by 78,400 (5.5 percent) over the same month last year. This is using seasonally adjusted data. The non-adjusted figure is 77,200 fewer jobs (5.4 percent).
Over the year (June 2019 to June 2020), the Kansas labor force is down by 3,633 (0.2 percent) using seasonally adjusted data, with a decrease of 25,316 (1.7 percent) over the last month. Non-seasonal data shows a fall of 3,176 (0.2 percent) in the labor force over the year.
Of note: While the number of jobs and working people rose by large amounts in June, both are still much smaller than before the response to the pandemic.
The number of unemployed persons fell from May 2020 to June 2020 by 40,492 (26.8 percent). The unemployment rate was 7.5 percent in June, up 4.4 percentage points from one year ago, and down 2.5 percentage points from last month.
Comparing Kansas to the nation: Using seasonal data, the number of Kansas nonfarm jobs is 2.30 percent lower than 12 months ago, while nationally, the same statistic is 3.61 percent lower. Non-seasonal data shows the number of Kansas nonfarm jobs is 5.42 percent lower than 12 months ago, while nationally, the same statistic is 8.72 percent lower.
Click charts and tables for larger versions.
In the following chart showing job changes from the previous month, the magnitude of the changes in April through June overwhelms the other months. The rise in June employment is larger than experienced in any other month during the past year.
In the following chart of job levels from the same month one year ago, the June figures show the loss of jobs becoming less severe.
The June release contained figures for industry groups. The following chart shows the number of employees in June 2019 and June 2020.
This chart uses the same data, showing the percent change from June 2019. The Leisure and hospitality category is still the lowest, proportionally. Construction showed the smallest proportional loss.