TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas unemployment levels remained flat in February, with the jobless rate holding steady at 6.1 percent.
An economist with the state Department of Labor said Friday the seasonally adjusted rate and overall employment report did not indicate significant change from January. The jobless rate was 6.9 percent in February 2011.
The agency said eight of 11 industry sectors reported gains in the past 12 months, with the professional and business services industries adding 11,900 jobs, an 8.2 percent increase. Overall, the economy has added 21,300 private sector jobs.
Labor Secretary Karin Brownlee said the February numbers alone suggest a “lukewarm” labor market. But she says the growth over the past year has been healthy.
Initial unemployment claims were down in February, as were continuing benefit claims.
