TOPEKA, KAN. – The Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) reported the April seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.8 percent, down from 4.9 percent in March and down from 5.5 percent in April 2013.
Kansas gained 16,900 seasonally adjusted private sector jobs, an increase of 1.5 percent since last year, and 16,800 nonfarm jobs, a 1.2 percent increase. Since last month, Kansas gained 1,900 seasonally adjusted private sector jobs and 2,500 nonfarm jobs, both with increases of 0.2 percent.
“More Kansans are working now than ever before and the State continues to build on its private sector job growth,” said Secretary of Labor, Lana Gordon. “These are strong indicators of a vibrant Kansas workforce.”
Not seasonally adjusted figures show Kansas gained 15,500 private sector and 14,700 nonfarm jobs since April 2013, an increase of 1.4 and 1.1 percent respectively. Since last month, Kansas gained 14,900 private sector jobs, a 1.3 percent increase, and 14,900 nonfarm jobs, a 1.1 percent improvement.
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.4 percent, down from 5 percent in March and down from 5.1 percent in April 2013.
“The improvement in Kansas’ labor market is quite comprehensive with positive growth recorded in nonfarm jobs and the number of people employed, with a decrease in the unemployment rate. Additionally, the number of individuals receiving unemployment benefits decreased substantially over the month and over the year,” said Labor Economist, Efua Afful.
There were 10,186 initial claims for unemployment benefits in April 2014, up from 9,669 initial claims in March 2014 and down from 13,187 last year.
There were 77,722 continued claims in April 2014, down from 108,777 the previous month and down from 140,862 in April 2013. These numbers include all available programs.
