Counties with the highest unemployment in Kansas

2024 ended on a high note, with the unemployment rate relatively unchanged at 4.1%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Jan. 10.

Unemployment rates were higher in November than the prior year in 308 of 389 metro areas, though they dropped in 60 areas and remained unchanged in 21 areas, the BLS reported.

The lion's share of job growth remained in government, social assistance, and health care, with openings in nursing, residential care facilities, and home health care leading employment in the latter sector.

To get a glimpse of regional variations in employment, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in Kansas, using BLS data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in November 2024, with initial ties broken by the number of unemployed people within that county, though some ties may remain. County-level unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.

Key takeaways: Biden's economic legacy, inauguration day, and immigration's impact on jobs

The latest BLS report highlights the final job figures under the Biden administration, giving the outgoing president a win during his final weeks in office. President Biden highlighted the creation of 16.6 million jobs during his term in a Jan. 11 statement.

"Although I inherited the worst economic crisis in decades with unemployment above 6% when I took office, we've had the lowest average unemployment rate of any administration in 50 years with unemployment at 4.1% as I leave," he said.

Incoming President-elect Donald Trump will inherit a strong economy, with forecasts tracking ongoing growth into 2025. However, uncertainty remains. Trump's proposed tariffs on foreign goods coupled with a sweeping deportation operation may have a significant impact on the economy, accelerating inflation and tamping down job growth, some experts forecast.

"I worry that immigration will be significantly lower than the long-term average of 1.0 million. I worry that tariffs will be universal and lead to a trade war. That would not be good for the economy and earnings," Hugh Johnson, chairman emeritus at Graypoint, told U.S. News.

What does all this mean for middle-class Americans? The unemployment rate is projected to remain stable, only creeping up to 4.3%, according to the Federal Reserve's latest Summary of Economic Projections. Experts suggest paying down mortgages, revisiting investment strategies, and paying attention to taxes before rates possibly shift as Inauguration Day draws close.

The big story: California wildfires still rage

Although Goldman predicts only a "modest drag" on U.S. jobs due to the devastating California wildfires, the situation is still ongoing. Small businesses destroyed by the fires will impact local jobs; in the wake of the fires, a surge in construction and the need for labor and materials might lead to localized shortages and rising costs, impacting several industries.

However, amid political and environmental uncertainty, it's unclear which way the winds will blow. Americans will have to simply wait for the smoke to clear.

To get a better idea of your community's current economy, read on to see the counties with the highest unemployment in Kansas.

#50. Osage County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,270 people (262 unemployed)

#49. Franklin County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 15,145 people (482 unemployed)

#48. Miami County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 18,363 people (591 unemployed)

#47. Douglas County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 67,457 people (2,154 unemployed)

#45. Cheyenne County (tie)

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,287 people (43 unemployed)

#45. Trego County (tie)

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,291 people (43 unemployed)

#44. Ellsworth County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,607 people (85 unemployed)

#43. Grant County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,818 people (93 unemployed)

#42. Greenwood County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,171 people (106 unemployed)

#41. Kingman County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,382 people (110 unemployed)

#40. Barton County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,537 people (417 unemployed)

#39. Lyon County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 16,664 people (551 unemployed)

#38. Leavenworth County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 38,052 people (1,274 unemployed)

#37. Morton County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,100 people (37 unemployed)

#36. Elk County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,213 people (41 unemployed)

#35. Russell County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,283 people (110 unemployed)

#34. Brown County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,600 people (158 unemployed)

#33. Marion County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,058 people (207 unemployed)

#32. Dickinson County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,881 people (305 unemployed)

#31. Shawnee County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.4%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 94,588 people (3,178 unemployed)

#30. Graham County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,180 people (41 unemployed)

#29. Edwards County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,413 people (49 unemployed)

#28. Sherman County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,794 people (98 unemployed)

#27. Butler County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 33,378 people (1,181 unemployed)

#26. Rooks County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,418 people (87 unemployed)

#25. Labette County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,520 people (345 unemployed)

#24. Sumner County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 11,015 people (400 unemployed)

#23. Reno County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 29,114 people (1,053 unemployed)

#22. Decatur County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,209 people (45 unemployed)

#21. Harper County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,792 people (104 unemployed)

#20. Cloud County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,795 people (140 unemployed)

#19. Montgomery County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,742 people (545 unemployed)

#18. Chautauqua County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,392 people (53 unemployed)

#17. Pawnee County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,714 people (102 unemployed)

#16. Allen County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,150 people (232 unemployed)

#15. Harvey County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 17,541 people (660 unemployed)

#14. Jewell County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,243 people (49 unemployed)

#13. Rush County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,632 people (63 unemployed)

#12. Coffey County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,595 people (140 unemployed)

#11. Cowley County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 15,592 people (614 unemployed)

#10. Crawford County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 18,976 people (734 unemployed)

#9. Sedgwick County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.0%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 260,450 people (10,427 unemployed)

#8. Wilson County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,658 people (150 unemployed)

#7. Atchison County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,929 people (282 unemployed)

#6. Wyandotte County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 79,549 people (3,227 unemployed)

#5. Linn County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,459 people (193 unemployed)

#4. Woodson County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,475 people (67 unemployed)

#3. Neosho County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,214 people (282 unemployed)

#2. Bourbon County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,945 people (285 unemployed)

#1. Geary County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.0%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 11,101 people (559 unemployed)

This story features data reporting by Elena Cox, writing by Alizah Salario, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.