How many jobs were added in Kansas last month?
Refreshed monthly
Kansas gained 5,100 jobs in May 2026, ranking it 13th among states in job growth. Those figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' state employment report, which tracks monthly job changes. Job numbers can swing month to month as local economies expand or contract, but over the past five years the state has averaged about 1,500 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
+5.1K
month to month change in number of jobs (May 2026)
13th
rank among states in monthly job growth (May 2026)
May 2026's gain of 5,100 jobs was the second consecutive month of positive job growth in Kansas. Monthly job growth was down from the 5,300 new jobs in April 2026.
During the latest five year period (June 2021 to May 2026), Kansas gained jobs in 42 out of 60 months. May 2026 had the 12th-highest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in July 2022 (+15,200) while job growth was weakest in September 2021 (-11,500).
There were 5,100 more jobs in May 2026 in Kansas than the previous month.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment, June 2021–May 2026, seasonally adjusted
Which Kansas sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in May 2026?
The three supersectors with the highest job growth in May 2026 were accommodation and food services, construction, and durable goods. Accommodation and food services added 1,700 jobs, more than the entire economy. Construction gained 1,500 jobs, while durable goods added 700 jobs. The remaining supersectors either posted smaller gains or lost jobs during the month.
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The health care and social assistance sector gained 700 jobs during May 2026.
Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in Kansas (May 2026)
How does Kansas's job growth in 2026 compare to previous years?
In 2025, Kansas gained an average of 42 jobs every month. That's lower than the 2024 average monthly increase of 1,300, and the 16th-highest since 2007. The 2025 average ranks as the 16th-highest in job growth since 2007.
When excluding the two pandemic-affected years of 2020 and 2021, job growth ranged from a loss of 5,100 on average every month in 2009 to a gain of 1,600 on average every month in 2013.
In 2025, Kansas gained an average of 42 jobs every month.
Average monthly change in the number of jobs, seasonally adjusted
Job growth among four metro areas primarily in Kansas during May 2026 ranged from a gain of 0 jobs in the Manhattan, KS area to a gain of 700 jobs in the Wichita, KS area metro area.
Monthly job growth, by metro area
Metro areas where at least one of its primary counties are within Kansas
| Metro area | Change in jobs | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | +700 | |
| 2. | +500 | |
| 3. | +400 | |
| 4. | +300 | |
| 5. | +0 |
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
