Lyon County now has the highest unemployment rate in the KVOE listening area and the third-highest unemployment rate in Kansas after the monthly report from the Department of Labor was released Friday.
Statewide, Lyon County’s rate of 5.3 percent trails only Crawford and Woodson counties, both of which have 5.4 percent unemployment.
The May figure for Lyon County also shows a 0.5-percent increase from the 4.8 percent mark in April. A year ago, Lyon County’s jobless rate was 3.1 percent.
The city of Emporia’s jobless rate also climbed, up from 5.2 percent in April to 5.7 percent in May after being at an even 3 percent a year ago.
Factors for the increases at the city and county levels are not included in the KDOL report.
Other area counties had varying trends. Chase, Morris and Wabaunsee counties had slight decreases, while Coffey, Greenwood and Osage counties had slight increases. Morris County has the area low at 2.7 percent.
Statewide, May’s unemployment rate was 3.8 percent, unchanged from April and up slightly from 3.5 percent a year ago.
