January 2025
Released March 17, 2025
Download the full PDF for Kansas
Download the summary PDF for Kansas
United States Employment Snapshot
In January, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 9, rose in 19, and remained unchanged in 23.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4 percent.
In January, payroll jobs rose in 31 states and fell in 19. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in South Dakota. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in Georgia.
Kansas Employment Snapshot
In January, Kansas lost 3,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.8 percent. In the prior month, Kansas lost 300 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Kansas added 7,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.7 percentage points from 3.1 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. Kansas is tied for 37th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In January, Kansas’s private sector lost 2,600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 7,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Kansas lost 700 net private payroll jobs.
In January, employment in Kansas rose by 795, and over the past 12 months it rose by 13,954.
Kansas’s labor force participation rate rose to 67.3 percent in January from 67.2 percent and ranks 8th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.6 percentage points.
Kansas Payroll Employment
Kansas lost 3,600 net payroll jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Kansas lost 300 jobs. Kansas nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. Kansas is tied for 37th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Kansas lost 2,600 private sector jobs, or -0.2 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Kansas lost 700 jobs. Kansas private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 81,000 jobs in January, or 0.1 percent. Kansas ranks 33rd in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during January were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (800) and Manufacturing (600).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Government (-1,000) and Leisure and Hospitality (-3,800).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Construction (5,700) and Education and Health Services (5,700).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Leisure and Hospitality (-3,200) and Professional and Business Services (-5,000).
Kansas Labor Force
The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.
The labor force participation rate in Kansas rose to 67.3 percent in January from 67.2 percent in the prior month.
Kansas ranks 8th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Kansas was 67.9 percent occurring in March 2015, and the 10-year low was 66.3 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.6 percent in January.