July was not a good month for jobless numbers in Emporia or Lyon County.
Emporia’s jobless rate climbed from 5.8 percent in June — already the highest in the state as tracked by the Kansas Department of Labor — to 6.5 percent. The city jobless rate was 4 percent a year ago and is over a full percentage point above the next city on the list, Kansas City, Kansas. Lyon County, which had the third-highest rate in June at 5.8 percent, is now at an even 6 percent after being at 3.9 percent last year. Lyon County is now tied for third-highest unemployment rate in Kansas alongside Bourbon County because Elk and Mitchell counties are at 6.1 percent.
City leaders have said the complete closure of Tyson Foods, coupled with national trends, have pushed local jobless rates to these levels.
Areawide, all counties had increases between June and July. Most were small, but Greenwood County jumped a full percentage point and now has the area high at 5.4 percent. Morris County has the area low at 3.2 percent.
Statewide, the unemployment rate held steady at 3.8 percent, although non-farm jobs decreased by 4,300 in July. The 1,300-job increase in the trade, transportation and utilities categories was more than offset by the loss of 5,000 jobs in the government sector.
Nationally, unemployment is at 4.2 percent.
