In Kansas for August 2023, the labor force fell, the number of jobs fell, and the unemployment rate remained steady when compared to the previous month. Over the year, Kansas is below the middle of the states in job growth.
Data released from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, part of the United States Department of Labor, shows a deteriorating employment picture in Kansas for August when compared to the previous month.
(Click charts and tables for larger versions.)
Using seasonally adjusted data, from August 2023 to August 2023, nonfarm employment in Kansas fell by 4,100 jobs (0.3 percent). Over the year, the number of Kansas nonfarm jobs for August 2023 was higher by 18,000 (1.3 percent) over the same month last year. This is using seasonally adjusted data.
Over the year (August 2022 to August 2023), the Kansas labor force grew by 15,272 people (1.0 percent) using seasonally adjusted data from the household survey, with a decline of 1,009 (0.1 percent) over the last month.
When ChatGPT looked at this table, it concluded:
Labor Force: The increase in the labor force from August 2022 to August 2023 suggests economic growth and potentially more job opportunities. However, the slight decrease in the following months may indicate a contraction in the labor market or a decrease in the working-age population.
Unemployed Persons and Unemployment Rate: The decrease in unemployed persons and the unemployment rate from August 2022 to August 2023 is a positive sign, indicating improved employment conditions. However, the minor increase in unemployed persons from July 2023 to August 2023 may suggest a slight deterioration in job availability or a mismatch in job skills and requirements.
Nonfarm Employment: The increase in nonfarm employment from August 2022 to August 2023 is indicative of job growth in sectors other than agriculture. However, the decrease in the last month observed may point to job losses in those sectors or a shift in employment to other sectors, possibly agriculture.
Overall Economic Implications: The overall increase in the labor force and nonfarm employment, coupled with a decrease in unemployed persons and the unemployment rate from August 2022 to August 2023, suggests economic expansion and a healthier job market in Kansas during this period. However, the fluctuations in these metrics in the subsequent months warrant close monitoring to understand the evolving employment landscape and economic conditions in the state.
Conclusion: The table provides a snapshot of the employment scenario in Kansas, reflecting positive employment growth and improved job market conditions between August 2022 and August 2023. However, the minor fluctuations in the labor force, unemployed persons, and nonfarm employment in the following months highlight the dynamic nature of the job market and the need for continuous assessment of economic and employment trends.
When Bard, from Google, looked at the table, it said this:
The employment situation in Kansas is strong. The labor force is growing, the unemployment rate is low, and nonfarm employment is increasing. This suggests that the Kansas economy is expanding and creating jobs.
However, there are a few things to note. First, the unemployment rate has not changed in the past three months. This suggests that the labor market is tight and that there are few jobs available for those who are unemployed. Second, nonfarm employment decreased from July to August 2023. This suggests that the economic expansion may be slowing down.
Overall, the employment situation in Kansas is positive. However, it is important to monitor the unemployment rate and nonfarm employment in the coming months to see if the economic expansion continues.
There are now 171,900 (13.5 percent) more jobs in Kansas than in April 2020, which is the low point since the pandemic’s start. There are 13,500 (0.9 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 167,690 (12.8 percent) more working people in Kansas than in April 2020, and 20,687 (1.4 percent) more than in February 2020. The household survey counts Kansas residents with nonfarm jobs, without regard to the location of the job.
The number of unemployed persons grew from August 2023 to August 2023 by 78 persons (0.2 percent). The unemployment rate was 2.7 percent in August 2023, unchanged from the last month, and down 0.1 percentage point over the year.
Comparing Kansas to the nation: Using seasonal data, the number of Kansas nonfarm jobs is 1.26 percent higher than 12 months ago, while nationally, the same statistic is 2.01 percent higher. Non-seasonal data shows the number of Kansas nonfarm jobs is 1.17 percent higher than 12 months ago, while nationally, the same statistic is 1.97 percent higher.
When Bard examined this table of not seasonally adjusted data from the household survey, it concluded:
The employment situation in Kansas is generally positive. The labor force is growing, the unemployment rate is low, and nonfarm employment is increasing. However, there are a few things to note.
First, the unemployment rate increased from August 2022 to August 2023. This is the first time the unemployment rate has increased in Kansas since August 2021. It is important to monitor the unemployment rate in the coming months to see if this is a trend or just a one-month aberration.
Second, nonfarm employment increased at a slower rate from August 2022 to August 2023 than it did from July 2022 to July 2023. This suggests that the economic expansion in Kansas may be slowing down.
Overall, the employment situation in Kansas is positive, but there are a few signs that the economy may be slowing down. It is important to monitor the unemployment rate and nonfarm employment in the coming months to see if these trends continue.
Additionally, it is important to note that the July and August 2023 data is not seasonally adjusted. This means that the data may be affected by seasonal factors, such as summer vacations and the start of the school year. It is important to compare the July and August 2023 data to the July and August 2022 data to get a more accurate picture of the employment situation in Kansas.
ChatGPT said this about the same table:
Labor Force: The consistent increase in the labor force from July 2022 to August 2023 suggests economic growth and potentially more job opportunities, indicating a positive trend in the state’s economy.
Unemployed Persons and Unemployment Rate: The decrease in unemployed persons and the unemployment rate from July 2022 to July 2023 is a positive sign, indicating improved employment conditions and a healthier job market. However, the increase in both metrics from August 2022 to August 2023 may suggest a slight deterioration in job availability or a mismatch in job skills and requirements, warranting close monitoring.
Nonfarm Employment: The increase in nonfarm employment from July 2022 to August 2023 is indicative of job growth in sectors other than agriculture, suggesting a diversified and growing economy.
Overall Economic Implications: The overall increase in the labor force and nonfarm employment, coupled with a decrease in unemployed persons and the unemployment rate from July 2022 to July 2023, suggests economic expansion and a healthier job market in Kansas during this period. However, the increase in unemployed persons and the unemployment rate from August 2022 to August 2023 highlights the need for continuous assessment of economic and employment trends to address any emerging challenges in the job market.
Conclusion: The table provides a snapshot of the employment scenario in Kansas, reflecting positive employment growth and improved job market conditions between July 2022 and July 2023. However, the minor increase in unemployed persons and the unemployment rate in August 2023 compared to August 2022 highlights the dynamic nature of the job market and underscores the importance of sustained efforts to foster job creation and address unemployment in the state.
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 positive changes for Kansas over the past year except for four months.
Chart 1b shows job changes for Kansas and the nation from the same month one year ago. Growth in Kansas has been similar to the nation except for the last two, when Kansas was lower than the nation.
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 nine months.
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, the following chart 6b shows the number of employees in various industries in August 2022 and August 2023.
Chart 6a uses the same data but shows the percent change for the same period. All industry groups have gains except for Trade, Transportation and Utilities, Financial Activities, Professional and Business Services, and Other Services.
The rate of job growth in Kansas over the year had been good compared to other states, but now Kansas ranks fortieth among the states. The following chart shows the monthly and annual change in the number of jobs in the states, along with the rank of the state.
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.
