Preliminary estimates reported by the Kansas Department of Labor and Bureau of Labor Statistics show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.4 percent in May. This was unchanged from April and down from 3.6 percent in May 2017.

“The number of unemployed Kansans looking for work dropped below 50,000 for the first time since May of 2000,” said Secretary Lana Gordon.

Central Kansas jobless rates remain low, with the unemployment rate in Saline County at 2.9 percent.

McPherson, Ellsworth, Ottawa, and Lincoln County posted unemployment at 2.9 or lower. The rate in Dickinson County in May was 3.2 percent down from 3.4 in April.

Seasonally adjusted job estimates indicate total Kansas nonfarm jobs increased by 1,900 from April. Private sector jobs, a subset of total nonfarm jobs, increased by 1,800 from the previous month.

“Preliminary estimates for May are encouraging. Job growth over the year matched the U.S. growth rate at 1.6 percent,” said Senior Labor Economist, Tyler Tenbrink. “The state added 7,100 jobs over the last 12 months in the professional and business services industry, an industry with an average wage of over $27 per hour.”

Since May 2017, Kansas gained 22,700 seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs and 20,700 private sector jobs.