Cloud County Jobless Rate Improves Slightly in May

Cloud County's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged down by three-tenths of a percentage point to 2.7 percent between April and May, according to data released by the Kansas Department of Labor on Friday, June 16th.

The county's unemployment numbers are stronger than the state average.

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 2.9 percent in May.  This is unchanged from 2.9 percent in April and an increase from 2.5 percent in May 2022.

Officials say Cloud County has a labor force of 3,697, with 3,597 people employed and 100 people unemployed.

Elsewhere in North Central Kansas, Mitchell County had the lowest unemployment rate in the region at 1.8 percent.  Ottawa County and Washington County both had unemployment rates of 2.2 percent.  Republic County had an unemployment rate of 2.3 percent.  Clay County had an unemployment rate of 2.5 percent, and Jewell County had the highest unemployment rate in the region at 3.1 percent.

Labor Economist Emilie Doerksen says seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 1,500 from April.  Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers.  Private sector jobs decreased by 2,200 over the month, while government increased by 700.

Since May 2022 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 31,800.  This change is due to an increase of 26,600 private sector jobs and an increase of 5,200 government jobs.