Wichita Employment Forecast
Released October 3, 2019 (See previous version.)
Total nonfarm employment in the Wichita metropolitan area* grew 1.2 percent in 2018, with 3,500 new jobs created to bring the area’s employment to 298,600 workers. This was a turnaround after Wichita’s total employment declined by 2,200 jobs in 2017. Wichita’s unemployment rate declined for the eighth straight year in 2018 to 3.7 percent, the area’s lowest unemployment rate in the 21st century. Employment growth is projected to continue for the area through 2019, expanding the workforce by 1.3 percent. For 2020, growth is expected to be more modest, as the Wichita economy is projected to add approximately 1,600 new jobs and grow 0.5 percent. The projected range of growth for Wichita’s employment is between 0.1 and 1 percent for 2020, as continued national growth would continue to fuel local growth, but a national or global recession could adversely affect Wichita’s export-oriented industries, such as manufacturing.
*The Wichita metropolitan consists of Sedgwick, Butler, Harvey, Kingman, and Sumner counties.
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