Cloud County Unemployment Drops to 2.8 Percent in March 2024

The Kansas Department of Labor reported this month that Cloud County's unemployment rate dropped to 2.8 percent in March 2024, down from 3.2 percent in February 2024.

Officials say Cloud County has a labor force of 3,580, with 3,480 people employed and 100 people unemployed.

Elsewhere in North Central Kansas, Washington County had the lowest unemployment rate in the region of 2.2 percent.  Mitchell County had an unemployment rate of 2.3 percent.  Republic County had an unemployment rate of 2.5 percent.  Ottawa County had an unemployment rate of 2.6 percent.  Clay County had an unemployment rate of 2.8 percent, while Jewell County had the highest unemployment rate in the region at 3.4 percent.

Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services (LMIS) division of the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show a seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate of 2.7 percent in March.  This is unchanged from 2.7 percent in February and unchanged from 2.7 percent in March 2023.

Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 6,400 from February.  Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers.  Private sector jobs increased by 5,500 over the month, while government increased by 900.

Since March 2023, Labor Economist Nathan Kessler says Kansas' seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 21,800.  This change is due to an increase of 16,400 private sector jobs and an increase of 5,400 government jobs.

The April 2024 Labor Report will be released on Friday, May 17th.