Unemployment rates went up once again in July

Unemployment rates in Riley and surrounding counties continued to rise in July, the Kansas Department of Labor reported on Friday.

Preliminary estimates set Riley County’s unemployment rate at 4.2% in July, a climb from 4% in June and 3% in May. Pottawatomie County’s unemployment rate rose to 3.6% in July, up from 3.3% in June and 2.6% in May, and Wabaunsee County jumped a full percentage point from 3.1% in June to 4.1% in July.

Geary County reached 5.4% in July, which is the sixth-highest in Kansas, after it was at 5% in June and 4.2% in May.

In Manhattan, the unemployment rate rose from 3.8% in June to 4% in July. Junction City’s rate grew from 5.1% in June to 5.4% in July.

Unemployment rates ticked upward across the state as well. In Kansas, unemployment increased from 3.2% in July from 3% in June and 2.6% in May. That’s still below the current national unemployment rate of 4.3%

Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total non-farm payroll employment decreased by 1,700 jobs from June. Private sector jobs were up 3,900 from June, but government jobs dropped by 5,600 during the month.