The release of April’s metro-level unemployment data showed a positive trend (if two or three months can be considered a trend) for the Kansas City area. Employment in the region increased by over 8,800, and outpaced the labor force growth of 3,600. This led to a decline of 5,218 in the number of unemployed and a good-sized drop in the unemployment rate, to 7.8 percent. It was 8.3 percent in March.
Kansas City was not alone, as the data showed a slightly improving employment picture in most metros throughout the country. But it is significant to note how Kansas City’s unemployment rate is performing relative to the national rate. In recent years, our unemployment rate has generally run even with or slightly higher than the national rate. But beginning in January the region’s unemployment rate started diverging from that pattern and it now stands nearly a full percentage point below than the national average.
Kansas City was not alone, as the data showed a slightly improving employment picture in most metros throughout the country. But it is significant to note how Kansas City’s unemployment rate is performing relative to the national rate. In recent years, our unemployment rate has generally run even with or slightly higher than the national rate. But beginning in January the region’s unemployment rate started diverging from that pattern and it now stands nearly a full percentage point below than the national average.
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