In Kansas in April 2024, the labor force rose, the number of jobs rose, and the unemployment rate rose compared to the previous month. Over the year, Kansas is at the midpoint of states in job growth.
Data released from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, part of the United States Department of Labor, shows a mixed and slightly improving employment picture in Kansas for April 2024 when compared to the previous month.
(Click charts and tables for larger versions.)
Using seasonally adjusted data, from March 2024 to April 2024, nonfarm employment in Kansas rose by 2,000 jobs (0.1 percent). Over the year, the number of Kansas nonfarm jobs for March 2024 was higher by 23,000 (1.6 percent) over the same month last year. This is using seasonally adjusted data.
Over the year (April 2023 to April 2024), the Kansas labor force fell by 8,162 people (0.5 percent) using seasonally adjusted data from the household survey, with growth of 1,297 (0.1 percent) over the last month.
When ChatGPT looked at this table, it concluded:
In April 2024, Kansas experienced the following employment changes:
- Labor Force: The labor force slightly increased by 1,297 people from March to April 2024, a change of 0.1%. Over the past year, the labor force decreased by 8,162 people, a 0.5% drop.
Unemployed Persons: The number of unemployed persons rose by 1,273 from March to April 2024, an increase of 3.1%. Compared to April 2023, there were 1,342 more unemployed people, a 3.3% increase.
Unemployment Rate: The unemployment rate in April 2024 was 2.8%, up from 2.7% in March 2024 and April 2023. This is a 0.1 percentage point increase from both the previous month and the same month last year.
Nonfarm Employment: Nonfarm employment increased by 2,000 jobs from March to April 2024, a 0.1% rise. Compared to April 2023, there were 23,000 more nonfarm jobs, a 1.6% increase.
Overall, in April 2024, Kansas saw a slight increase in both the labor force and nonfarm employment, while the number of unemployed persons and the unemployment rate also rose slightly.
There are now 192,600 (15.2 percent) more jobs in Kansas than in April 2020, which is the low point since the pandemic’s start. There are 33,800 (2.4 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 156,952 (12.0 percent) more working people in Kansas than in April 2020, and 5,072 (0.3 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 1.60 percent higher than 12 months ago, while nationally, the same statistic is 1.80 percent higher. Non-seasonal data shows the number of Kansas nonfarm jobs is 1.63 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:
In April 2024, Kansas saw the following employment changes:
- Labor Force: The labor force slightly decreased by 3,761 people from April 2023 to April 2024, a 0.2% drop.
Unemployed Persons: The number of unemployed persons increased by 4,466 from April 2023 to April 2024, a 12.2% rise.
Unemployment Rate: The unemployment rate in April 2024 was 2.7%, up from 2.4% in April 2023, a 0.3 percentage point increase.
Nonfarm Employment: Nonfarm employment increased by 23,600 jobs from April 2023 to April 2024, a 1.6% rise.
Overall, in April 2024, Kansas experienced a slight decrease in the labor force, an increase in the number of unemployed persons, a higher unemployment rate, and growth in nonfarm employment.
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. The trend in recent months is positive. ChatGPT looked at this chart and told me this:
The chart titled “Chart 1a. Kansas and National Nonfarm Employment” displays the monthly percentage change in nonfarm employment for Kansas and the United States from April 2023 to April 2024. The data is seasonally adjusted and sourced from employer surveys.
Description and Analysis:
- Kansas Employment Trends:
- Kansas shows more volatility compared to the national trend.
- There are several significant spikes and dips. For example, there is a noticeable drop around June 2023, followed by a sharp increase in the subsequent months.
- The highest positive change occurs around June 2023, and the lowest point follows immediately after, indicating a rapid fluctuation within a short period.
- By April 2024, the change in nonfarm employment in Kansas is positive, indicating some recovery or growth.
- United States Employment Trends:
- The national trend is more stable with fewer sharp fluctuations compared to Kansas.
- There is a steady but modest upward trend in nonfarm employment over the period.
- The national employment changes remain mostly within a range of 0.0% to 0.3% month-over-month.
- Comparison Between Kansas and National Trends:
- Kansas exhibits more dramatic month-to-month changes, suggesting higher variability in employment.
- The national trend indicates more consistent growth, reflecting a more stable employment situation across the country.
- Kansas’ employment changes frequently cross the national trend line, showing periods where Kansas’ employment growth was higher or lower than the national average.
Summary:
Kansas’ nonfarm employment shows greater month-to-month variability compared to the national average, with several periods of significant increases and decreases. The national trend, in contrast, is more stable and shows consistent growth. The data suggests that Kansas’ employment situation is more susceptible to fluctuations than the broader U.S. employment landscape.
Chart 1b shows job changes for Kansas and the nation from the same month one year ago. Growth in Kansas has usually been lower than the nation. ChatGPT looked at this chart and told me this:
The chart titled “Kansas and National Nonfarm Employment” compares the year-over-year change in nonfarm employment between Kansas and the United States as a whole from April 2023 to April 2024. The data is seasonally adjusted and derived from employer surveys.
Key Observations:
- Overall Trend:
- Both Kansas and the national employment rates show fluctuations over the year.
- Kansas exhibits more pronounced changes compared to the relatively stable national trend.
- Kansas Employment:
- April 2023: Kansas starts with a growth rate just above 2%.
- June 2023: A significant spike, peaking close to 3%.
- August 2023: Sharp decline, dropping to around 1%.
- January 2024: A notable dip, nearly reaching 0%.
- April 2024: A recovery trend, climbing back close to 1.5%.
- National Employment:
- The national employment rate remains relatively stable throughout the period, maintaining a consistent range between 1.5% and 2%.
- There is a slight downward trend, particularly noticeable towards the latter half of 2023.
Analysis:
- Kansas Volatility:
- The Kansas employment rate shows significant volatility with steep increases and decreases. This could indicate a more sensitive or responsive state economy to local or national economic conditions.
- The sharp decline and subsequent recovery suggest periods of economic stress followed by periods of recovery within the state.
- National Stability:
- The national trend suggests a more stable economic environment with fewer sharp changes. This stability might be attributed to the larger and more diversified nature of the U.S. economy, which can absorb shocks better than a single state.
- Comparison:
- Kansas’s employment changes are more erratic compared to the national average. This can highlight regional economic challenges or opportunities that affect Kansas more acutely than the national average.
Conclusion:
The chart illustrates that Kansas experienced significant fluctuations in nonfarm employment over the past year, in contrast to the relatively steady national employment trend. These variations suggest that local factors in Kansas may have a substantial impact on employment rates, leading to periods of rapid growth and decline.
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. ChatGPT says:
The chart illustrates the unemployment rates for Kansas and the United States from April 2023 to April 2024. Here are the key points of analysis:
- Trends:
- Kansas: The unemployment rate in Kansas shows a slight fluctuation but remains relatively stable, hovering around 2.5% to 3%. There is a minor upward trend starting from January 2024.
- United States: The national unemployment rate is higher compared to Kansas and exhibits more variation, fluctuating between 3.5% and 4%. There is no significant upward or downward trend; instead, it shows periodic increases and decreases.
- Comparison:
- Throughout the period, Kansas consistently maintains a lower unemployment rate compared to the national average. The gap between Kansas and the national unemployment rate is around 1% to 1.5% throughout the year.
- Seasonal Adjustments:
- The data is seasonally adjusted, which means it accounts for regular seasonal variations in employment and unemployment.
- Key Observations:
- Kansas appears to have a more stable employment situation compared to the national average.
- The national unemployment rate shows greater volatility, indicating more fluctuations in the broader U.S. labor market.
The chart helps visualize the relative stability of Kansas’s unemployment rate against the backdrop of a more variable national rate, highlighting potential differences in economic conditions or policies impacting the labor market at the state and national levels.
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, chart 6b shows the number of employees in various industries in April 2023 and April 2024.
Chart 6a uses the same data but shows the percent change for the same period. When I asked ChatGPT about this data, it provided this analysis:
Based on the chart showing Kansas employment by industry over the year, here are the industries that grew and declined, based on percentage change from April 2023 to April 2024.
Industries that grew:
– Education and Health Services: 4.8%
– Other Services: 3.0%
– Construction: 2.3%
– Government: 2.2%
– Leisure and Hospitality: 2.0%
– Total Nonfarm: 1.6%
– Total Private: 1.5%
– Financial Activities: 1.2%
– Trade, Transportation, and Utilities: 0.6%
– Manufacturing: 0.2%Industries that declined:
– Mining and Logging: -4.7%
– Information: -0.5%
– Professional and Business Services: -0.3%
Kansas ranks twenty-fifth among the states and the District of Columbia in job growth over the past year, and twenty-fourth for growth over the past month. The following chart shows the monthly and annual change in the number of jobs in the states and DC, along with the rank.
Chart 8b shows job change state ranks over time. In this example, Kansas is highlighted.
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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