Cloud County's Unemployment Rate Increases Slightly in February 2024

Cloud County's seasonally adjusted preliminary February 2024 unemployment rate was 3.2 percent, according to the Kansas Department of Labor.  The preliminary February 2024 jobless rate was up .4 percantage points from January 2024 and remained steady with February 2023.

Officials say Cloud County has a labor force of 3,673, with 3,555 people employed and 118 people unemployed.

Elsewhere in North Central Kansas, Mitchell County had the lowest unemployment rate in the region of 2.4 percent.  Ottawa County had an unemployment rate of 2.7 percent.  Republic County had an unemployment rate of 2.8 percent.  Washington County had an unemployment rate of 2.9 percent.  Clay County had an unemployment rate of 3.1 percent, while Jewell County had the highest unemployment rate in the region of 3.3 percent.

Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services (LMIS) division of the Kansas Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics show a statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 2.7 percent in February.  This is an increase from 2.6 percent in January and a decrease from 2.8 percent in February 2023.

Labor Economist Emilie Doerksen says seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 3,600 from January.   Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers.  Private sector jobs increased by 3,800 over the month, while government decreased by 200.

Since February 2023 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 13,000.  This change is due to an increase of 8,700 private sector jobs and an increase of 4,300 government jobs.