TOPEKA, Kan. — Unemployment in Kansas remained at 3.5 percent in May, unchanged from the month before and up from 3.3. percent in May 2028.
The Kansas Department of Labor says 600 jobs were added to the public and private sectors and the average monthly job growth over the last three months is now at 2,100. Senior Labor Economist Tyler Tenbrink says job growth was solid, despite heavy rains that impacted Kansas in May and slowed down construction projects.
“Offsetting losses (in construction employment) were gains in state government and retail trade. Overall job growth is picking up after a slow start to the year.
Unemployment ticked up slightly in May for the Manhattan area. The May rate was 2.8 percent, up from 2.6 percent in April. Riley County’s unemployment was 2.8 percent, while Pottawatomie County was at 2.9 percent. In Geary County, unemployment climbed to 4.4 percent, up from 4.2 percent in April but down from 4.5 percent in May 2018.
