WSU releases 2019 employment forecasts

Wichita State University's Center for Economic Development and Business Research has released updated employment forecasts for Kansas, Wichita, Topeka and Kansas City.

Kansas

Wichita State University's Center for Economic Development and Business Research has released an updated Kansas Employment Forecast.

In 2019, Kansas total nonfarm employment is forecast to increase by 18,182 jobs, with an anticipated growth rate of 1.1 percent.

The production sector is forecast to grow the fastest at 1.5 percent, adding approximately 3,500 new jobs. The service sector is projected to grow 1.1 percent, and the trade, transportation and utilities sector is expected to add more than 3,000 jobs with 1.2 percent growth. The government sector is projected to have the slowest growth, at 0.5 percent.

“Although oil prices, stock market volatility, and the federal shutdown took center stage in recent months, Kansas employment forecast revisions remain mostly unchanged for 2019. The center still expects a return to positive growth, as firms slowly struggle to find new labor to keep up with the expanding US economy,” comments Jeremy Hill, director for the Center for Economic Development and Business Research at Wichita State University.

Read the full 2019 Kansas Employment Forecast. A graph and table are available at the link.

Wichita

Wichita State University's Center for Economic Development and Business Research has released an updated Wichita Employment Forecast.

In 2019, Wichita total nonfarm employment is expected to increase by approximately 2,800 jobs with an anticipated growth rate of 0.9 percent.

The production sectors are forecast to be the fastest growing portion of the Wichita economy in 2019 with 1.9 percent employment growth. The service sector and the trade, transportation, and utilities sectors are forecast to each grow 0.6 percent, collectively adding an additional 1,000 jobs. The government sector is projected to grow 0.9 percent.

Read the full 2019 Wichita Employment Forecast. A graph and table are available at the link.

Topeka

Wichita State University's Center for Economic Development and Business Research has released its Topeka Employment Forecast.

In 2019, Topeka total nonfarm employment is expected to grow 0.3 percent, adding approximately 300 jobs to the local economy.

The production sector is forecast to lead employment growth at 1.3 percent, adding almost 200 jobs. The service sector is projected to expand employment by 0.5 percent, while the trade, transportation and utilities sector is expected to decline by 0.5 percent. Government employment is forecast to remain flat in 2019.

Read the full 2019 Topeka Employment Forecast. A graph and table are available at the link.

Kansas City

Wichita State University's Center for Economic Development and Business Research has released its Kansas City Employment Forecast.

In 2019, Kansas City total nonfarm employment is projected to increase by approximately 16,100 jobs, growing 1.5 percent.

The service sector is forecast to grow 1.7 percent, adding over 10,000 jobs, which makes it the fastest growing portion of the Kansas City economy. Production sector employment is expected to grow 1.5 percent, while trade, transportation and utilities sector employment is expected to grow 0.9 percent. The government sector is predicted to grow by 1.4 percent in 2019.

Read the full 2019 Kansas City Employment Forecast. A graph and table are available at the link.


The mission of Wichita State University is to be an essential educational, cultural and economic driver for Kansas and the greater public good. Wichita State is a doctoral research university enrolling nearly 15,000 students and offering 59 undergraduate degree programs in more than 150 areas of study in seven undergraduate colleges. The Graduate School offers 45 master's and 12 doctoral degrees that offer study in more than 100 areas. Wichita State's Innovation Campus is an interconnected community of partnership buildings, laboratories and mixed-use areas where students, faculty, staff, entrepreneurs and businesses have access to the university's vast resources and technology. For more information, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/wichitastate and Facebook at www.facebook.com/wichita.state.