Kansas jobs, September 2020

In Kansas for September 2020, the unemployment rate continued to fall, but both the labor force and the number of jobs also fell.

Data released today from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, part of the United States Department of Labor, shows the effect of the pandemic and the response to it on employment in Kansas for September 2020.

(Click charts and tables for larger versions.)

Using seasonally adjusted data, from August 2020 to September 2020, nonfarm employment in Kansas fell by 7,200 jobs (0.5 percent). Over the year, the number of Kansas nonfarm jobs for September 2020 was lower by 63,000 (4.4 percent) over the same month last year. This is using seasonally adjusted data. The non-adjusted figure is 62,600 fewer jobs (4.4 percent).

Over the year (September 2019 to September 2020), the Kansas labor force fell by 14,427 people (1.0 percent) using seasonally adjusted data, with a decline of 23,577 (1.6 percent) over the last month. Non-seasonal data shows a decline of 16,673 (1.0 percent) in the labor force over the year.

The Kansas economy had been adding jobs each month since May, so the decline in September is notable. The national economy added jobs, although a small number, and less than previous months since the pandemic started.

The number of unemployed persons fell from August 2020 to September 2020 by 15,809 (15.3 percent). The unemployment rate was 5.9 percent in September, up 2.8 percentage points from one year ago, and down 1.0 percentage points from last month.

Comparing Kansas to the nation: Using seasonal data, the number of Kansas nonfarm jobs is 4.43 percent lower than 12 months ago, while nationally, the same statistic is 6.37 percent lower. Non-seasonal data shows the number of Kansas nonfarm jobs is 4.39 percent lower than 12 months ago, while nationally, the same statistic is 6.40 percent lower.

Click charts and tables for larger versions.

In the following chart showing job changes from the previous month, the magnitude of the changes in April through August overwhelms the other months. Note the loss of jobs for Kansas in September.

In the following chart of job levels from the same month one year ago, the September figures show the loss of jobs becoming less pronounced for both Kansas and the nation, but the trend towards recovery is slowing.

In the following chart of unemployment rates, we see that the rate in Kansas is lower than the national rate, both before and after the pandemic.

In the following chart of changes in the labor force for Kansas and the nation, the labor force has both grown and shrank since the pandemic.

The June release contained figures for industry groups. The following chart shows the number of employees in September 2019 and September 2020.

This chart uses the same data, showing the percent change from September 2019. The Leisure and hospitality category is still the lowest, proportionally, followed by Mining and logging. The only industry group to gain employees is Construction, and the gain was small. (Note the horizontal scale is from positive to negative values when moving left to right.)