In 2017, Wichita total nonfarm employment is expected to increase by 2,487 jobs, which implies the employment growth rate is anticipated to be 0.8 percent.

• The production sectors are expected to add fewer than 100 jobs in 2017, with a 0.1 percent growth rate.
• The trade, transportation and utilities sector is forecasted to add over 400 jobs in 2017, growing 0.8 percent, after growing by an estimated 420 jobs in 2016.
• The service sectors are forecast to be the fastest growing portion of the Wichita area economy, with 1.4 percent growth. 
• Government employment is expected to increase slightly in 2017, growing by 0.2 percent.

Kansas employment declined by 0.6 percent in the past 12 months, while Wichita employment increased by 0.8 percent in the same period.

“Wichita continues to sit comfortably with moderate growth. Although aerospace employment has yet to take off, management of companies and consulting services have more than fueled recent growth,” comments Jeremy Hill, director of the Center for Economic Development and Business Research at Wichita State.

Read the full 2017 Wichita Employment Forecast at www.outlook.cedbr.org.