Emporia’s jobless rate was on the rise month-to-month and year-to-year in the latest report from the Kansas Department of Labor and it may not be a one time occurrence according to Emporia City Manager Trey Cocking.
During an interview with KVOE News Monday, Cocking noted the 3.4 to 4.2 increase between December and January and 1.2 percent between January 2024 and 2025, were likely related to the loss of jobs due to the closure of Holiday Resort as well as the end of seasonal employment. He adds the numbers did not include jobs related to the Tyson Foods closure, which is currently ongoing, meaning more increases are likely over the next several months.
On top of that, Cocking says he anticipates the local rate could continue to rise over the next six to nine months reflecting trends at the national level.
Speaking to uncertainties at the federal level, namely the transition in Federal administration at the beginning of the year and the ongoing installation of tarriffs Cocking says now is not an ideal time for “projects” to take place either in terms of day-to-day business operations or the development of new businesses only adding to the unemployment trends. With that in mind, the question becomes when could we see a reverse in trends. Cocking says that will require collaborative efforts at the state, federal and local levels.
On a positive note, Cocking says he does not anticipate the rise in unemployment to hamper attracting new businesses to the community noting available workforce is one of the first things businesses look for when considering a move to a community.
The recent unemployment report came just a little over a month before the Emporia Stronger Job Fair scheduled for April 8th between 11 am and 2 pm. The fair will be held at the Emporia Workforce Center, 215 West 6th Avenue, and is being organized in cooperation between Southeast KansasWorks and Emporia Spanish Speakers.
Those interested in registering for the job fair can do so by scanning the QR code on the flyer provided below.
