Even with some likely reflection of the Hopkins Manufacturing shutdown, the Kansas Department of Labor’s March unemployment report shows Emporia and Lyon County jobless rates declining.
Emporia’s jobless rate was at 5.6 percent in February, dipping to 5.2 percent in March. Lyon County had a similar decline, from 5.4 to 5 percent.
Other area counties, including Chase, Coffey, Morris, Osage and Wabaunsee, all saw percentage declines from February to March — in Coffey County’s case, by more than a percentage point. Greenwood County stayed level at 5 percent, which ties Lyon County for the area high. Morris County has the area’s lowest unemployment mark at 3.2 percent.
The statewide jobless rate was 3.9 percent, unchanged from February.
