Kansas Employment Situation, July 2024

In Kansas in July 2024, the labor force rose, the number of jobs fell, and the unemployment rate rose compared to the previous month. Over the year, Kansas is near the midpoint of states in job growth.

Data released from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, part of the United States Department of Labor, shows a declining employment picture in Kansas for July 2024 when compared to the previous month.

(Click charts and tables for larger versions.)

Using seasonally adjusted data, from June 2024 to July 2024, nonfarm employment in Kansas fell by 1,700 jobs (0.1 percent). Over the year, the number of Kansas nonfarm jobs for July 2024 was higher by 21,100 (1.5 percent) over the same month last year. This is using seasonally adjusted data.

Over the year (July 2023 to July 2024), the Kansas labor force fell by 4,047 people (0.3 percent) using seasonally adjusted data from the household survey, with decline of 1,515 (0.1 percent) over the last month.

When ChatGPT looked at this table, it concluded:

The table provides data on Kansas employment for July 2024, including comparisons with previous months and July 2023.

Key Points for July 2024:

• Labor Force: The total number of people available for work in July 2024 was 1,508,765, showing a slight increase of 1,512 people (0.1%) from June 2024. However, this is a small decline of 0.3% compared to July 2023.
• Unemployed Persons: The number of unemployed individuals in July 2024 rose to 48,351. This represents a significant increase of 2,380 people (5.2%) from June 2024 and a larger increase of 23.2% from July 2023.

• Unemployment Rate: The unemployment rate in July 2024 was 3.2%. This marks a rise of 0.2 percentage points from June 2024 and a notable increase of 0.6 percentage points compared to July 2023.

• Nonfarm Employment: The number of people employed in nonfarm sectors was 1,461,500 in July 2024. This is a slight decrease of 1,700 jobs (-0.1%) from June 2024. However, it is up by 21,100 jobs (1.5%) compared to July 2023.

Analysis:

The data indicates that while the labor force saw a slight increase from June to July 2024, there was a concerning rise in unemployment both in terms of the number of unemployed persons and the unemployment rate. Despite this, nonfarm employment remains relatively stable, with a minor dip from the previous month but a healthy increase over the past year. This suggests that while more people are actively looking for work, the job market might not be growing fast enough to accommodate them, leading to higher unemployment.

There are now 191,100 (15.0 percent) more jobs in Kansas than in April 2020, which is the low point since the pandemic’s start. There are 32,300 (2.3 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 142,703 (11.7 percent) more working people in Kansas than in April 2020, and 823 (0.1 percent) more than in February 2020. The household survey counts Kansas residents with nonfarm jobs, without regard to the location of the job.

Comparing Kansas to the nation: Using seasonal data, the number of Kansas nonfarm jobs is 1.46 percent higher than 12 months ago, while nationally, the same statistic is 1.61 percent higher. Non-seasonal data shows the number of Kansas nonfarm jobs is 1.72 percent higher than 12 months ago, while nationally, the same statistic is 1.58 percent higher.

When ChatGPT examined this table of not seasonally adjusted data from the household survey, it concluded:

The table presents Kansas employment data for July 2024, with comparisons to July 2023, focusing on year-to-year changes without seasonal adjustments.

Key Points for July 2024:

• Labor Force: The labor force in July 2024 was 1,000,808, marking an increase of 30,383 people (3.1%) compared to July 2023.
• Unemployed Persons: There were 36,678 unemployed individuals in July 2024, an increase of 6,993 people (23.6%) from the same month the previous year.

• Unemployment Rate: The unemployment rate in July 2024 was 3.7%, which is 0.6 percentage points higher than in July 2023, reflecting a 19.4% increase.

• Nonfarm Employment: Nonfarm employment was at 1,448,200 in July 2024, up by 24,500 jobs (1.7%) compared to July 2023.

Analysis:

The data shows that while the Kansas labor force has grown over the past year, the number of unemployed individuals has also significantly increased, leading to a higher unemployment rate. Despite this, nonfarm employment has grown, suggesting that while more jobs have been created, they have not kept pace with the growth in the labor force, resulting in more people being unemployed.

Chart 1a shows job changes for Kansas and the nation from the previous month, and we can see both positive and changes for Kansas over the past year. ChatGPT looked at this chart and told me this:

• The chart indicates that Kansas experienced more dramatic month-to-month changes in nonfarm employment compared to the national average. This could suggest a more volatile job market in Kansas, possibly influenced by local economic factors or specific industry trends.
• The United States, on the other hand, demonstrates a more stable employment trend, reflecting the broader, more diversified national economy.
• The sharp fluctuations in Kansas could be a sign of underlying economic instability or significant events affecting the state’s employment, whereas the steadier national trend suggests resilience at the macroeconomic level.

Chart 1b shows job changes for Kansas and the nation from the same month one year ago. Growth in Kansas is 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 slowly rising.

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, chart 6b shows the number of employees in various industries in July 2023 and July 2024.

Chart 6a uses the same data but shows the percent change for the same period. When I asked ChatGPT about this data, it provided this analysis:

The chart titled “Chart 6a. Kansas Employment” shows the percentage change in employment by industry from July 2023 to July 2024, using seasonally adjusted data. Here’s a comparison of the various industries based on their growth or decline over the year:

Industries that Grew:

• Other Services: This sector experienced the highest growth, with a 6.5% increase in employment.
• Education and Health Services: Employment in this sector grew by 4.3%.
• Construction: This industry saw a 3.7% increase in employment.
• Total Private: The private sector as a whole grew by 1.9%.
• Total Nonfarm: Overall nonfarm employment increased by 1.5%.
• Trade, Transportation, and Utilities: This sector experienced a 1.6% increase.
• Financial Activities: Employment in this industry also grew by 1.6%.
• Manufacturing: This sector had a modest growth of 0.6%.
• Leisure and Hospitality: Employment in this industry increased by 0.6%.
• Professional and Business Services: This sector also saw a slight growth of 0.6%.

Industries that Declined:

• Mining and Logging: This sector experienced the most significant decline, with a 3.2% decrease in employment.
• Information: Employment in this industry dropped by 2.7%.
• Government: The government sector saw a slight decline of 0.7%.

Summary:

The majority of industries in Kansas saw growth over the year, with “Other Services” and “Education and Health Services” leading in job growth. However, the “Mining and Logging” and “Information” sectors experienced the most notable declines, with government employment also seeing a minor decrease. Overall, the state’s nonfarm employment grew, but specific industries faced challenges.

Kansas ranks twenty-fourth among the states and the District of Columbia in job growth over the past year, and fortieth for growth over the past month. The following chart shows the monthly and annual change in the number of jobs in the states and DC, along with the rank.

Chart 8b shows job change state ranks over time. In this example, Kansas is highlighted.

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.