In Kansas for November 2023, the labor force fell, the number of jobs rose, and the unemployment rate was unchanged when compared to the previous month. Over the year, Kansas is below the middle of the states in job growth.
Data released from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, part of the United States Department of Labor, shows a mostly steady employment picture in Kansas for November 2023 when compared to the previous month.
(Click charts and tables for larger versions.)
Using seasonally adjusted data, from October 2023 to November 2023, nonfarm employment in Kansas rose by 2,700 jobs (0.2 percent). Over the year, the number of Kansas nonfarm jobs for November 2023 was higher by 14,300 (1.0 percent) over the same month last year. This is using seasonally adjusted data.
Over the year (November 2022 to November 2023), the Kansas labor force grew by 13,818 people (0.9 percent) using seasonally adjusted data from the household survey, with a decline of 1,742 (0.1 percent) over the last month.
When ChatGPT looked at this table, it concluded:
For November 2023, the employment data for Kansas shows slight changes compared to the previous year and the preceding months. Here’s a breakdown in plain language:
- Labor Force: The total number of people available for work was 1,519,426, a slight decrease from October 2023 and a small increase of 13,818 people (or 0.9%) from November 2022. This indicates a relatively stable workforce size over the year.
Unemployed Persons: The number of people without jobs and looking for work was 43,751, slightly less than the previous month and 436 fewer than the previous year. This decrease of 1.0% over the year suggests a small improvement in employment conditions.
Unemployment Rate: The percentage of the labor force that was unemployed remained steady at 2.9% from November 2022 to November 2023, indicating stable unemployment rates over the year.
Nonfarm Employment: The number of people employed in sectors excluding agriculture increased to 1,455,100, which is 14,300 more jobs (or a 1.0% increase) compared to November 2022. This suggests a modest growth in employment opportunities in the state over the year.
In summary, Kansas’s employment situation in November 2023 showed a stable labor force with a slight overall increase in employment and a small decrease in unemployment compared to the previous year. The unemployment rate remained unchanged, and there was modest job growth in nonfarm sectors.
There are now 184,400 (14.5 percent) more jobs in Kansas than in April 2020, which is the low point since the pandemic’s start. There are 26,000 (1.8 percent) more jobs than in February 2020, just before the pandemic. These are counts of nonfarm jobs with employers in Kansas, without regard to the residence of the employee.
Considering employed people from the household survey, there are now 164,402 (12.5 percent) more working people in Kansas than in April 2020, and 17,399 (1.2 percent) more than in February 2020. The household survey counts Kansas residents with nonfarm jobs, without regard to the location of the job.
Comparing Kansas to the nation: Using seasonal data, the number of Kansas nonfarm jobs is 0.99 percent higher than 12 months ago, while nationally, the same statistic is 1.81 percent higher. Non-seasonal data shows the number of Kansas nonfarm jobs is 1.25 percent higher than 12 months ago, while nationally, the same statistic is 1.81 percent higher.
When ChatGPT examined this table of not seasonally adjusted data from the household survey, it concluded:
For November 2023, the Kansas employment data, not seasonally adjusted, shows some changes in the labor market compared to the previous year.
- Labor Force: The total number of people available for work slightly increased to 1,510,925 from 1,506,563 in November 2022, marking a 0.3% rise. This suggests a small growth in the number of people working or looking for work.
Unemployed Persons: The number of people without jobs and actively seeking employment decreased significantly to 32,255 from 38,166 in November 2022, a 15.5% drop. This indicates a notable improvement in the job market, with fewer people being unemployed.
Unemployment Rate: The unemployment rate decreased from 2.5% in November 2022 to 2.1% in November 2023, a 16.0% decrease. This is a positive sign, showing that a smaller proportion of the labor force is unemployed.
Nonfarm Employment: Employment in sectors other than farming rose to 1,470,400 from 1,452,300 in November 2022, an increase of 18,100 jobs or 1.2%. This indicates job growth in these sectors over the year.
In summary, the Kansas employment situation in November 2023, as per the not seasonally adjusted data, showed a slight increase in the labor force, a significant decrease in unemployment, and a modest increase in nonfarm employment compared to the previous year. The overall trend suggests an improving job market with more people employed and fewer people unemployed.
To learn more about this data and what the employer and household surveys measure, see Visualization: Employment measures. Also, see Counting jobs in Kansas.
Click charts and tables for larger versions.
Chart 1a shows job changes for Kansas and the nation from the previous month, and we can see both positive and changes for Kansas over the past year.
Chart 1b shows job changes for Kansas and the nation from the same month one year ago. Growth in Kansas has been similar to the nation except for the last five months, when Kansas has been lower than the nation.
In Chart 3, showing unemployment rates for Kansas and the nation, we see that the rate in Kansas is lower than the national rate, as it had been before the pandemic. The unemployment rate in Kansas is little changed over the last year.
Chart 2a shows monthly changes in the labor force for Kansas and the nation. The Kansas labor force has both expanded and contracted since the pandemic, as has the national labor force.
For industry groups, the following chart 6b shows the number of employees in various industries in November 2022 and November 2023.
Chart 6a uses the same data but shows the percent change for the same period. All industry groups have gains except for Manufacturing; Trade, Transportation, and Utilities; and Professional and Business Services.
The rate of job growth in Kansas over the year had been good compared to other states, but now Kansas ranks forty-second among the states. The following chart shows the monthly and annual change in the number of jobs in the states, along with the rank of the state.
The report for this month from the Kansas Department of Labor is here. The report from BLS may be found here. It appears there are no news releases or social media posts from Governor Kelly on this topic.
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