TOPEKA — The Kansas unemployment rate unexpectedly jumped by one full point in January. The Kansas jobless rate went from 6.4 percent in December to 7.4 percent in January. State labor economist Tyler Tenbrink said he had expected an increase in unemployment because normally, there is a seasonal slowdown but the size of the increase was a surprise. The winter storms might have had an impact on the higher increase, he said. However, the January rates were better than unemployment rates in January 2010. Franklin County and surrounding counties also saw sharp jumps in their unemployment rates. The Franklin County jobless rate jumped from 7.5 percent in December to 9.9 percent in January. Miami County’s rate jumped from 7.6 to 9.7 percent; Anderson County, 7.1 to 9.7; Osage County, 7.4 to 10.1; Douglas County, 5.6 to 6.7; Linn County, 10.6 to 13.6; and Coffey County, 5.8 to 6.9. Johnson County had the smallest jump – from 6.0 to 6.7 percent. The state labor department’s Sue Henke said all sectors of Kansas business and industries lost jobs in January in part because of seasonal factors and winter storms. Kansas businesses lost 35,500 jobs from December to January, a 2.7 percent decrease.
Thursday, March 10, 2 p.m.
