In Kansas for November 2020, the labor force grew while the number of people working fell, resulting in a rise in the unemployment rate.
Data released today from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, part of the United States Department of Labor, shows a declining employment picture in Kansas for November 2020.
(Click charts and tables for larger versions.)
Using seasonally adjusted data, from October 2020 to November 2020, nonfarm employment in Kansas fell by 2,900 jobs (0.5 percent). Over the year, the number of Kansas nonfarm jobs for November 2020 was lower by 58,300 (4.1 percent) over the same month last year. This is using seasonally adjusted data. The non-adjusted figure is 56,900 fewer jobs (4.0 percent).
Over the year (November 2019 to November 2020), the Kansas labor force rose by 37,340 people (2.5 percent) using seasonally adjusted data, with an increase of 15,945 (1.1 percent) over the last month. Non-seasonal data shows a rise of 36,102 (2.4 percent) in the labor force over the year.
The Kansas economy had been adding jobs each month since May, but there was a decline in September. The rise in October overcame September’s loss, but jobs were lost in November. There are now 2,600 fewer jobs in Kansas than in August. The national economy added jobs, although a small number, and less than previous months since the pandemic started.
The number of unemployed persons rose from October 2020 to November 2020 by 10,452 (13.8 percent). The unemployment rate was 5.6 percent in November, up 2.5 percentage points from one year ago, and up 0.6 percentage points from last month.
Comparing Kansas to the nation: Using seasonal data, the number of Kansas nonfarm jobs is 4.10 percent lower than 12 months ago, while nationally, the same statistic is 6.05 percent lower. Non-seasonal data shows the number of Kansas nonfarm jobs is 3.95 percent lower than 12 months ago, while nationally, the same statistic is 5.99 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 August overwhelms the other months. Note the loss of jobs for Kansas in September followed by the rise in October and the small loss in November.
In the following chart of job levels from the same month one year ago, the November figures show the loss of jobs reversing course in Kansas.
In the following chart of unemployment rates, we see that the rate in Kansas is lower than the national rate, both before and after the pandemic. The gap is becoming smaller with the rise in the unemployment rate for Kansas in November.
In the following chart of changes in the labor force for Kansas and the nation, the labor force has both grown and shrank since the pandemic.
The June release contained figures for industry groups. The following chart shows the number of employees in November 2019 and November 2020.
This chart uses the same data, showing the percent change from November 2019. The Leisure and hospitality category is still the lowest, proportionally, followed by Mining and logging and Information. The only industry group to gain employees is Construction. (Note the horizontal scale is from positive to negative values when moving left to right.)
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