Not since 1979 has the state’s jobless rate been as low as it was announced Tuesday by Labor Secretary Delia Garcia:
The state jobless rate dipped from 3.2 percent in September and was 3.3 percent a year ago.
Locally, Emporia’s jobless rate actually climbed from 2.7 to 2.9 percent. Lyon County’s rate went from 2.8 percent to 2.9 percent.
Areawide, jobless rates had marginal movement both up and down but remained low overall. Chase County has the lowest unemployment rate areawide at 2.1 percent. Coffey County has the highest unemployment rate at 3.5 percent.
Not all the news in the October report is rosy. Labor economist Emilie Doerksen says overall jobs declined from September to October, notably in manufacturing — which was impacted by national strike activity.
