Cloud County's Unemployment Rate Rises Slightly in December

Cloud County's unemployment rate rose slightly in December, growing 0.2 percent to 2.7 percent, but remains just below the statewide average, according to information released by the Kansas Department of Labor.

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 statewide adjusted unemployment rate of 2.9 percent in December.  This is an increase from 2.8 percent in November and an increase from 2.8 percent in December 2021.

Officials say Cloud County had 105 people listed as unemployed in December.

Elsewhere in North Central Kansas, Mitchell County and Washington County had the lowest unemployment rates in the region at 1.8 percent.  Republic County had an unemployment rate of 1.9 percent.  Clay County and Jewell County both had unemployment rates of 2.3 percent, while Ottawa County had an unemployment rate of 2.5 percent.

Labor Economist Nathan Kessler says seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 500 from November.  Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers.  Private sector jobs increased by 1,100 over the month, while government decreased by 600.

Since December 2021 Kansas' seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 42,300.  This change is due to an increase of 37,900 private sector jobs and an increase of 4,400 government jobs.