Kansas Employment Forecast, May Revision
Revised May 2017 (See previous version.)
From March 2016 to March 2017, Kansas employment has increased by 0.2 percent, an increase of approximately 2,200 jobs. In 2017, Kansas total nonfarm employment is forecast to increase by 7,049 jobs, with an anticipated growth rate of 0.5 percent. This is expected to be slightly lower than Kansas’ average employment growth rate over the past five years, which has been 1 percent.
- The production sectors are projected to expand 0.3 percent in Kansas, adding 600 jobs in 2017. Job creation is projected to be concentrated in the construction sector, while natural resources and manufacturing employment remain relatively flat.
- Trade, transportation and utilities sector employment is expected to grow 0.3 percent, adding approximately 900 new jobs. This growth is primarily forecast to be in the transportation and utilities sector and the wholesale trade sector, each of which are expected to grow over 1 percent, while retail trade sector employment is projected to decline in 2017.
- The service sectors are anticipated to be the fastest growing segment of the Kansas economy in 2017, adding over 5,000 jobs for 0.8 percent employment growth. The professional and business services sector and the health care sector are projected to comprise the bulk of overall service sector growth, collectively adding over 4,000 jobs.
- The government sector is expected to remain approximately constant in 2017, growing by 0.1 percent. The federal and state government sectors are forecast to decline slightly in employment, while the local government sector is anticipated to experience a small amount of growth statewide.
- The Topeka, Kansas City, and Wichita metropolitan areas are all expected to grow at rates faster than the state average in 2017, with a combined average growth rate of 1.4 percent. Excluding these three MSAs, the remainder of the state is forecast to experience an employment decline of approximately 1 percent.
