For more information, contact:

Barbara Hersh

Marketing and Comm. Director

401 S.W. Topeka Blvd

Topeka, KS 66603

Phone: 785-296-0901

Fax: 785-296-0753

Review and Analysis for December 2017(Embargoed until January 19, 2018)

Summary

1

November nonfarm job estimates were revised downward by 100 jobs from 1,411,600 to 1,411,500. Private

sector jobs were revised downward by 200 jobs from 1,156,200 to 1,156,000. Estimates are seasonally

adjusted.

Kansas gained 5,300 jobs over the month. Over the past 12 months, the number of nonfarm jobs increased

by 6,300 jobs. Estimates are seasonally adjusted.

The private sector gained 5,200 jobs over the month, or 0.4%. The largest gains were in Leisure and

Hospitality (+3,200), Construction (+1,600), and Professional and Business Services (+1,100). Over the past

12 months, the private sector gained 8,000 jobs. Estimates are seasonally adjusted.

Average weekly hours worked in the private sector increased over the year from 33.8 hours to 34.1 hours in

December 2017. Average nominal hourly earnings increased by $0.53 to $23.58 (+2.3%). Average nominal

weekly earnings increased by $24.99 (+3.2%) over the past 12 months. Estimates are not seasonally adjusted.

In December the labor force decreased by 4,899, the pool of unemployed decreased by 1,809 and

employment decreased by 3,090. Estimates are seasonally adjusted.

The unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 3.4% in December. Estimates are seasonally adjusted.

Over the past 12 months, initial claims decreased by 4,111 and continued claims decreased by 18,169 (these

numbers include all programs). The number of individuals receiving unemployment insurance benefits

decreased by 3,294 over the year. Average duration of benefit receipt did not change over the past 12

months. Estimates are not seasonally adjusted.

2

-1,000

-600

-400

0

100

100

300

900

1,100

1,600

3,200

5,200

-2,000 -1,000 0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000

Manufacturing

Education and Health Services

Financial Activities

Information

GOVERNMENT

Mining and Logging

Other Services

Trade, Transportation and Utilities

Professional and Business Services

Construction

Leisure and Hospitality

TOTAL PRIVATE

Over-the-Month Job Gain/Loss

Over-the-Month Change in Employment (seasonally adjusted)Kansas

December 2017

Total Nonfarm employment increased by 5,300 jobs in December 2017.

Source: Kansas Department of Labor, Labor Market Information Services and the Bureau of Labor Statistics; Current Employment Statistics (CES)

Seven of the 11 major sectors gained jobs over the month while three lost jobs.

3

December

2017 Absolute Percent Absolute Percent

TOTAL NONFARM 1,428,300 -700 0.0% 10,000 0.7%

GOVERNMENT 262,700 -1,200 -0.5% -100 0.0%

TOTAL PRIVATE 1,165,600 500 0.0% 10,100 0.9%

GOODS-PRODUCING 229,600 -1,900 -0.8% 2,800 1.2%

Mining and Logging 7,300 100 1.4% 600 9.0%

Construction 62,600 -1,300 -2.0% 3,900 6.6%

Manufacturing 159,700 -700 -0.4% -1,700 -1.1%

PRIVATE SERVICE-PROVIDING 936,000 2,400 0.3% 7,300 0.8%

Trade, Transportation and Utilities 269,900 1,800 0.7% -800 -0.3%

Information 19,600 200 1.0% -1,000 -4.9%

Financial Activities 86,300 -200 -0.2% 500 0.6%

Professional and Business Services 183,300 -500 -0.3% 3,800 2.1%

Education and Health Services 199,700 -400 -0.2% 2,400 1.2%

Leisure and Hospitality 126,100 1,400 1.1% 1,800 1.4%

Other Services 51,100 100 0.2% 600 1.2%

Industries in green added the most jobs over the year, and industries in red lost the most jobs over the year.

Nonfarm job statistics on subsectors will be furnished upon request.

Source: Kansas Department of Labor, Labor Market Information Services and the Bureau of Labor Statistics; Current Employment

Statistics (CES)

December 2017 Not Seasonally Adjusted Nonfarm Jobs

Place of Work Data

Month Change 12 Month Change

4

126,000,000

128,000,000

130,000,000

132,000,000

134,000,000

136,000,000

138,000,000

140,000,000

142,000,000

144,000,000

146,000,000

148,000,000

1,260,000

1,280,000

1,300,000

1,320,000

1,340,000

1,360,000

1,380,000

1,400,000

1,420,000

1,440,000

1,460,000

1,480,000D

ec-1

2Ja

n-1

3F

eb-1

3M

ar-1

3A

pr-

13

May

-13

Jun

-13

Jul-

13

Aug-

13

Sep

-13

Oct

-13

No

v-1

3D

ec-1

3Ja

n-1

4F

eb-1

4M

ar-1

4A

pr-

14

May

-14

Jun

-14

Jul-

14

Aug-

14

Sep

-14

Oct

-14

No

v-1

4D

ec-1

4Ja

n-1

5F

eb-1

5M

ar-1

5A

pr-

15

May

-15

Jun

-15

Jul-

15

Aug-

15

Sep

-15

Oct

-15

No

v-1

5D

ec-1

5Ja

n-1

6F

eb-1

6M

ar-1

6A

pr-

16

May

-16

Jun

-16

Jul-

16

Aug-

16

Sep

-16

Oct

-16

No

v-1

6D

ec-1

6Ja

n-1

7F

eb-1

7M

ar-1

7A

pr-

17

May

-17

Jun

-17

Jul-

17

Aug-

17

Sep

-17

Oct

-17

No

v-1

7D

ec-1

7

U.S

. N

on

farm

Jo

bs

Kan

sas

No

nfa

rm J

ob

s

Month-Year

Nonfarm JobsKansas and U.S.

December 2012 to December 2017

Kansas Jobs Kansas Jobs (Seasonally Adjusted) U.S. Jobs (Seasonally Adjusted)

Source: Kansas Department of Labor, Labor Market Information Services and the Bureau of Labor Statistics; Current Employment Statistics (CES)

Over-the-Year Percent Change in Jobs, Not Seasonally Adjusted (KS) +0.7%Over-the-Year Percent Change in Jobs, Not Seasonally Adjusted (US) +1.5%

Kansas job gains continued in December. Most of this growth was in the private sector, with the largest increase in Leisure and Hospitality jobs.

5

(6,000)

(5,000)

(4,000)

(3,000)

(2,000)

(1,000)

-

1,000

2,000

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Ch

an

ge i

n E

mp

loym

en

t

Month-Year

Over-the-Month Change in Private Sector JobsNot Seasonally Adjusted

KansasDecember 2008 - December 2017

Source: Kansas Department of Labor, Labor Market Information Services and the Bureau of Labor Statistics; Current Employment Statistics (CES)

Average of prior 10 years: -1,700 jobs

For the past ten years, the number of private sector jobs in Kansas has typically decreased in December. The increase this year is above the December average job gain for the past ten years.

6

-0.5

%

-0.2

%

0.0

% 0.2

%

-0.5

%

-0.4

%

0.1

%

-0.6

%

-0.4

%

-0.4

%

-0.3

%

0.4

%

0.9

%

-0.2

%

-0.2

%

0.9

%

0.8

%

1.6%

-0.4

%

1.0%

1.8%

0.8

%

0.5

%

0.0

%

1.2%

1.8%

-2.3

%

-0.5

%

-0.8

%

0.2

%

-0.4

%

-0.4

%

0.8

%

0.7

%

0.0

%

0.6

%

0.0

%

-0.7

%

0.6

%

-2.5%

-2.0%

-1.5%

-1.0%

-0.5%

0.0%

0.5%

1.0%

1.5%

2.0%

Dec-16 Jan-17 Feb-17 Mar-17 Apr-17 May-17 Jun-17 Jul-17 Aug-17 Sep-17 Oct-17 Nov-17 Dec-17

Perc

en

t

Month-Year

Over-the-Year Change in Private Sector Jobs, Total Hours Worked, and Real Hourly EarningsNot Seasonally Adjusted

KansasDecember 2016 to December 2017

Jobs Total Hours Worked Real Hourly Earnings

Source: Kansas Department of Labor, Labor Market Information Services and the Bureau of Labor Statistics; Current Employment Statistics (CES)

An increase in average weekly hours and the number of private sector jobs in Kansas contributed to an increase in total hours of labor compared to one year ago. Real average hourly earnings also improved over the year, increasing by 0.6%.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

7

• The labor force decreased by a net of 4,899 individuals to a total of 1,482,444 participants over the

month. Estimates are seasonally adjusted.

• Employment decreased by a net of 3,090 individuals to 1,431,994 over the month. Estimates are

seasonally adjusted.

• The pool of the unemployed decreased by a net of 1,809 individuals to 50,450 over the month.

Estimates are seasonally adjusted.

• The unemployment rate fell to 3.4% in December. Estimates are seasonally adjusted. The revised

unemployment rate for November remained at 3.5%.

• Over the last 12 months the unemployment rate fell from 4.3% in December 2016 to 3.4% in December

2017. Estimates are seasonally adjusted.

8

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

5.5

6.0

6.5D

ec-1

4

Jan

-15

Feb

-15

Mar

-15

Ap

r-15

May

-15

Jun

-15

Jul-

15

Aug-

15

Sep

-15

Oct

-15

No

v-1

5

Dec

-15

Jan

-16

Feb

-16

Mar

-16

Ap

r-16

May

-16

Jun

-16

Jul-

16

Aug-

16

Sep

-16

Oct

-16

No

v-1

6

Dec

-16

Jan

-17

Feb

-17

Mar

-17

Ap

r-17

May

-17

Jun

-17

Jul-

17

Aug-

17

Sep

-17

Oct

-17

No

v-1

7

Dec

-17

Un

em

plo

ym

en

t R

ate

(%

)

Dec-

14

Jan-

15

Feb-

15

Mar

-15

Apr-

15

May

-15

Jun-

15

Jul-

15

Aug

-15

Sep-

15

Oct-

15

Nov

-15

Dec-

15

Jan-

16

Feb-

16

Mar

-16

Apr-

16

May

-16

Jun-

16

Jul-

16

Aug

-16

Sep-

16

Oct-

16

Nov

-16

Dec-

16

Jan-

17

Feb-

17

Mar

-17

Apr-

17

May

-17

Jun-

17

Jul-

17

Aug

-17

Sep-

17

Oct-

17

Nov

-17

Dec-

17

U.S. 5.4 6.1 5.8 5.6 5.1 5.3 5.5 5.6 5.2 4.9 4.8 4.8 4.8 5.3 5.2 5.1 4.7 4.5 5.1 5.1 5.0 4.8 4.7 4.4 4.5 5.1 4.9 4.6 4.1 4.1 4.5 4.6 4.5 4.1 3.9 3.9 3.9

Kansas 3.8 4.8 4.6 4.5 4.2 4.3 4.6 4.7 4.2 3.7 3.7 3.6 3.6 4.3 4.2 4.2 3.8 3.9 4.5 4.8 4.6 4.1 4.0 3.8 3.8 4.3 4.1 3.7 3.5 3.7 4.0 4.3 4.1 3.4 3.0 3.2 3.0

U.S. SA 5.6 5.7 5.5 5.4 5.4 5.5 5.3 5.2 5.1 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 4.9 4.9 5.0 5.0 4.7 4.9 4.9 4.9 4.9 4.8 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.7 4.5 4.4 4.3 4.4 4.3 4.4 4.2 4.1 4.1 4.1

Kansas SA 4.3 4.3 4.3 4.4 4.3 4.3 4.3 4.2 4.2 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.2 4.2 4.3 4.3 4.3 4.3 4.3 4.1 4.0 3.8 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.9 3.8 3.6 3.5 3.4

Unemployment RateKansas and U.S.

December 2014 - December 2017

Source: Kansas Department of Labor, Labor Market Information Services and the Bureau of Labor Statistics; Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS)

The unemployment rate in Kansas continued its downward trend to 3.4 percent in December.

9

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE

CLAIMSEstimates are not seasonally adjusted

10

• Over the year, initial claims decreased by 4,111 and continued claims decreased by 18,169 claims

(these numbers include all programs). Estimates are not seasonally adjusted.

• The number of individuals receiving unemployment insurance benefits increased by 1,726 over

the month, and decreased by 3,294 from December 2016.

• Average duration of benefit increased 0.1 week over the month and did not change over the past

12 months to 11.2 weeks. (average duration is measured with a 12 month moving average).

11

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

4,500

5,000Ja

n

Jan

Jan

Jan

Feb

Feb Feb

Feb

Mar

Mar

Mar

Mar

Mar

Ap

r

Ap

r

Ap

r

Ap

r

May

May

May

May

May

Jun

Jun

Jun

Jun

Jul

Jul

Jul

Jul

Aug

Aug

Aug

Aug

Aug

Sep

Sep

Sep Sep

Oct

Oct

Oct

Oct

Oct

No

v

No

v

No

v

No

v

Dec

Dec

Dec

Dec

Dec

Nu

mb

er

of

Cla

ims

Month

Weekly Initial Claims (4-Week Moving Average)Kansas

2007, 2016, and 2017

2007 2016 2017

Source: Kansas Department of Labor, Labor Market Information Services; Unemployment Insurance Statistics Each data point represents an average of initial claims for the current week and three preceding weeks.

The average number of weekly initial claims increased in the last few weeks of the year as expected but remained below last year and 2007 levels.

12

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000Ja

n

Jan

Jan

Jan

Feb

Feb Feb

Feb

Mar

Mar

Mar

Mar

Mar

Ap

r

Ap

r

Ap

r

Ap

r

May

May

May

May

May

Jun

Jun

Jun

Jun

Jul

Jul

Jul

Jul

Aug

Aug

Aug

Aug

Aug

Sep

Sep

Sep Sep

Oct

Oct

Oct

Oct

Oct

No

v

No

v

No

v

No

v

Dec

Dec

Dec

Dec

Dec

Nu

mb

er

of

Cla

ims

Month

Weekly Continued Claims (4-Week Moving Average)Kansas

2007, 2016, 2017

2007 2016 2017

Source: Kansas Department of Labor, Labor Market Information Services; Unemployment Insurance Statistics Each data point represents an average of continued claims for the current week and three preceding weeks.

The average number of continued claims increased above the 10,000 mark in the last two weeks of the year but remains low compared to previous years.

13

Dec-1614,594

Dec-1711,300

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

45,000

50,000

Nu

mb

er

of

Ind

ivid

uals

Month

Number of Individuals Receiving Unemployment Insurance BenefitsKansas

December 2012 to December 2017

Source: Kansas Department of Labor, Labor Market Information Services; Unemployment Insurance Statistics

Claimants Average Duration (Weeks)December 2017 11,300 11.2November 2017 9,574 11.1December 2016 14,594 11.2

OTM Change +1,726 +0.1OTY Change -3,294 0.0

The number of individuals receiving benefits continues to post over the year declines. The average duration of benefits was largely unchanged.