Counties with the highest unemployment rate in Kansas

Written by:
November 15, 2022
SharonPapierdreams // Wikimedia Commons

Counties with the highest unemployment rate in Kansas

Unemployment rates, while significantly lower than the alarming pandemic peak of 14.7% experienced in April 2020, remain a subject of concern, notably as economic experts bandy around the idea of a potential recession by 2023. The last economic recession—the Great Recession of 2008-2010—sent rates up to 10% as of October 2009. It was not until the spring of 2019 that unemployment finally went down to the same level it sits at now.

As of October of this year, national unemployment is at 3.7%, 0.2% higher than in September. Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates by state demonstrate a rather sizable spectrum, ranging from just 2.0% in Minnesota, to 4.5% in Illinois and 4.7% in the District of Columbia. Further breakdown by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows yet another county-based spectrum within each state.

To that end, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rate in Kansas using data from the BLS. Counties are ranked by unemployment rate in September 2022.

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Douglas Kulp // Wikimedia Commons

#50. Morris County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.3%
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: +0.2%
- Total labor force: 3,081 (70 unemployed)
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Spacini // Wikimedia Commons

#49. Morton County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.3%
--- 1 month change: -0.8%
--- 1 year change: 0.0%
- Total labor force: 1,121 (26 unemployed)
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Catlady95 // Wikimedia Commons

#48. Ness County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.3%
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: +0.3%
- Total labor force: 1,256 (29 unemployed)
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Keith Snyder // Wikimedia Commons

#47. Saline County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.3%
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: -0.2%
- Total labor force: 28,711 (666 unemployed)
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Billy Hathorn // Wikimedia Commons

#46. Seward County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.3%
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: 0.0%
- Total labor force: 9,991 (231 unemployed)

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Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons

#45. Sherman County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.3%
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: +0.1%
- Total labor force: 2,771 (65 unemployed)
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Bhall87 // Wikimedia Commons

#44. Wabaunsee County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.3%
--- 1 month change: -0.3%
--- 1 year change: +0.2%
- Total labor force: 3,699 (84 unemployed)
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Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons

#43. Barton County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.4%
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: 0.0%
- Total labor force: 12,902 (311 unemployed)
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Paulmcdonald // Wikimedia Commons

#42. Cloud County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.4%
--- 1 month change: -0.9%
--- 1 year change: 0.0%
- Total labor force: 3,780 (91 unemployed)
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Ajohnson360 // Wikimedia Commons

#41. Douglas County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.4%
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -0.1%
- Total labor force: 65,630 (1,595 unemployed)

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Art davis // Wikimedia Commons

#40. Gove County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.4%
--- 1 month change: 0.0%
--- 1 year change: +0.6%
- Total labor force: 1,429 (34 unemployed)
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Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons

#39. Grant County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.4%
--- 1 month change: -0.9%
--- 1 year change: -0.1%
- Total labor force: 2,884 (70 unemployed)
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JonHarder // Wikimedia Commons

#38. Harvey County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.4%
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: -0.1%
- Total labor force: 17,098 (406 unemployed)
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Macross24 // Wikimedia Commons

#37. Lyon County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.4%
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: +0.1%
- Total labor force: 16,501 (399 unemployed)
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Smallbones // Wikimedia Commons

#36. Phillips County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.4%
--- 1 month change: -0.1%
--- 1 year change: +0.4%
- Total labor force: 2,598 (62 unemployed)

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CGP Grey // Wikimedia Commons

#35. Russell County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.4%
--- 1 month change: -0.2%
--- 1 year change: +0.2%
- Total labor force: 3,169 (77 unemployed)
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MadameGraffigny // Wikimedia Commons

#34. Butler County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.5%
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -0.4%
- Total labor force: 32,722 (831 unemployed)
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The All-Nite Images // Wikimedia Commons

#33. Dickinson County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.5%
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: 0.0%
- Total labor force: 8,904 (220 unemployed)
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Michael Adams // Wikimedia Commons

#32. Elk County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.5%
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: +0.3%
- Total labor force: 1,161 (29 unemployed)
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Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons

#31. Jewell County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.5%
--- 1 month change: -0.3%
--- 1 year change: +0.5%
- Total labor force: 1,223 (31 unemployed)

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shannonpatric17 // Wikimedia Commons

#30. Ottawa County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.5%
--- 1 month change: -0.3%
--- 1 year change: +0.1%
- Total labor force: 2,881 (73 unemployed)
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Kzollman // Wikimedia Commons

#29. Riley County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.5%
--- 1 month change: -0.7%
--- 1 year change: +0.2%
- Total labor force: 35,336 (870 unemployed)
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Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons

#28. Rooks County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.5%
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: +0.2%
- Total labor force: 2,411 (60 unemployed)
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IveGoneAway // Wikimedia Commons

#27. Trego County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.5%
--- 1 month change: -0.2%
--- 1 year change: +0.5%
- Total labor force: 1,364 (34 unemployed)
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Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons

#26. Cheyenne County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.6%
--- 1 month change: -0.2%
--- 1 year change: +0.7%
- Total labor force: 1,281 (33 unemployed)

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Ichabod // Wikimedia Commons

#25. Leavenworth County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.6%
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -0.2%
- Total labor force: 37,251 (969 unemployed)
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Ichabod // Wikimedia Commons

#24. Osage County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.6%
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: +0.1%
- Total labor force: 7,914 (206 unemployed)
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Ron Roberson // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Reno County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.6%
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -0.1%
- Total labor force: 29,653 (763 unemployed)
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National Park Service Midwest Region // Wikimedia Commons

#22. Shawnee County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.6%
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: 0.0%
- Total labor force: 90,951 (2,339 unemployed)
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Gordon Huggins // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Allen County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.7%
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: +0.2%
- Total labor force: 6,423 (172 unemployed)

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Michael Adams // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Chautauqua County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.7%
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -0.8%
- Total labor force: 1,429 (39 unemployed)
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Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Cowley County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.8%
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -0.1%
- Total labor force: 16,567 (469 unemployed)
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Pittsburgstealer // Wikimedia Commons

#18. Crawford County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.8%
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: +0.1%
- Total labor force: 18,617 (523 unemployed)
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Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons

#17. Lane County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.8%
--- 1 month change: -0.2%
--- 1 year change: +0.8%
- Total labor force: 719 (20 unemployed)
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Lefibreguy // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Sumner County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.8%
--- 1 month change: -0.7%
--- 1 year change: -0.5%
- Total labor force: 10,767 (300 unemployed)

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Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons

#15. Thomas County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.8%
--- 1 month change: +0.5%
--- 1 year change: +1.1%
- Total labor force: 4,214 (119 unemployed)
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Shamera // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Coffey County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.9%
--- 1 month change: -1.0%
--- 1 year change: +0.1%
- Total labor force: 4,111 (118 unemployed)
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Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons

#13. Graham County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.9%
--- 1 month change: 0.0%
--- 1 year change: +0.5%
- Total labor force: 1,080 (31 unemployed)
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Art davis // Wikimedia Commons

#12. Wilson County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.9%
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: -0.4%
- Total labor force: 3,764 (108 unemployed)
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usacetulsa // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Labette County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.0%
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -0.2%
- Total labor force: 9,172 (272 unemployed)

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Alishasmith1005 // Wikimedia Commons

#10. Montgomery County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.0%
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -0.2%
- Total labor force: 14,305 (424 unemployed)
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Ichabod // Wikimedia Commons

#9. Sedgwick County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.0%
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -0.7%
- Total labor force: 255,757 (7,594 unemployed)
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25or6to4 // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Woodson County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.0%
--- 1 month change: -0.7%
--- 1 year change: +0.1%
- Total labor force: 1,448 (43 unemployed)
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Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons

#7. Atchison County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.1%
--- 1 month change: -0.8%
--- 1 year change: +0.1%
- Total labor force: 6,603 (206 unemployed)
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Ichabod // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Bourbon County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.1%
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: +0.1%
- Total labor force: 6,313 (195 unemployed)

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Safire1k // Wikimedia Commons

#5. Wyandotte County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.1%
--- 1 month change: -0.8%
--- 1 year change: -1.0%
- Total labor force: 77,790 (2,443 unemployed)
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g Todd Comer // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Linn County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.3%
--- 1 month change: -0.8%
--- 1 year change: -0.1%
- Total labor force: 4,312 (141 unemployed)
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railfan 44 // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Neosho County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.5%
--- 1 month change: -0.7%
--- 1 year change: -0.2%
- Total labor force: 5,951 (206 unemployed)
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Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Decatur County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.6%
--- 1 month change: 0.0%
--- 1 year change: +1.2%
- Total labor force: 1,179 (42 unemployed)
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SharonPapierdreams // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Geary County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.7%
--- 1 month change: -0.7%
--- 1 year change: 0.0%
- Total labor force: 11,400 (421 unemployed)

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