Counties with the highest unemployment in Kansas

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December 9, 2024
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Counties with the highest unemployment in Kansas

In November, the national unemployment rate changed very little from October, rising from 4.1% to 4.2%. It's been slightly elevated in recent months compared to levels a year ago—likely a symptom of the Federal Reserve's higher interest rates, which can slow hiring and decrease job openings. It's up from 3.7% the year before, but for comparison, unemployment rates surged to 10% in October 2009 during the Great Recession, and a full recovery took years. At the height of the brief COVID-19 recession in April 2020, unemployment hit 14.7%.

To get a glimpse of regional variations in employment, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in Kansas using Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in October 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.

Despite the slight uptick in unemployment, the labor market added 227,000 jobs in November, according to the BLS. 

In the private sector, employment increased by 146,000 jobs, with 50,000 jobs added in education and health services and another 28,000 jobs in trade, transportation, and utilities, according to ADP's National Employment Report. While Sun Belt states saw growth in manufacturing roles, other jobs diminished in the sector across the Rust Belt, which continues to see losses. 

The labor market forecast for 2025 is still somewhat uncertain. The reelection of Donald Trump and his proposal to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico may send ripples throughout the economy. A tariff increase could create an inflationary environment, shifting the labor market as inflation inches toward the 2% goal.

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

#25. Labette County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,527 people (353 unemployed)

#24. Sumner County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 11,097 people (414 unemployed)

#23. Reno County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 29,284 people (1,091 unemployed)

#22. Harper County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,825 people (106 unemployed)

#21. Coffey County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,821 people (146 unemployed)

#20. Allen County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,181 people (236 unemployed)

#19. Harvey County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 17,640 people (669 unemployed)

#18. Rush County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,658 people (64 unemployed)

#17. Montgomery County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,842 people (574 unemployed)

#16. Ellsworth County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,651 people (106 unemployed)

#15. Cowley County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 15,649 people (632 unemployed)

#14. Crawford County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 18,916 people (749 unemployed)

#13. Sedgwick County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 261,148 people (10,470 unemployed)

#12. Jewell County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,288 people (53 unemployed)

#11. Atchison County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,993 people (289 unemployed)

#10. Decatur County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,200 people (50 unemployed)

#9. Chautauqua County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,388 people (58 unemployed)

#8. Wilson County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,716 people (156 unemployed)

#7. Woodson County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,502 people (64 unemployed)

#6. Clay County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 1.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,887 people (168 unemployed)

#5. Wyandotte County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 79,545 people (3,393 unemployed)

#4. Linn County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,493 people (196 unemployed)

#3. Neosho County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,296 people (290 unemployed)

#2. Geary County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 11,072 people (562 unemployed)

#1. Bourbon County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 2.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,021 people (313 unemployed)

This story features data reporting and writing by Dom DiFurio and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

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