2018 updated Kansas Employment Forecast released
In 2018, Kansas total nonfarm employment is forecast to increase by 9,047 jobs, with an anticipated growth rate of 0.6 percent.
The service sector is expected to grow at the fastest rate in the state, adding over 8,000 jobs for 1.2 percent employment growth. The production sector is forecast to remain flat, while the trade, transportation and utilities sector is projected to add over 700 jobs, expanding 0.3 percent. The government sector is predicted to increase 0.1 percent.
"Compared to the US economy, Kansas economic growth had 'cold-like symptoms' in 2017," said Jeremy Hill, director for the Center for Economic Development and Business Research at Wichita State. "Weaknesses in both agriculture and information weighed down the economy over the last year. Although durable goods manufacturing expanded within the state, it didn't contribute to the regional economy as much as the same sector did nationally. Recent employment data already suggests the Kansas economy is feeling better. CEDBR expects limited labor supply will dampen growth expectations in 2018."
Read the full 2018 Kansas Employment Forecast at https://wsu.news/kseconmay2018