While the over all state jobs numbers show improvement, that doesn’t seem to be reflected in the local numbers.

Hutchinson’s unemployment rate went up to 6.9 % in January, up from the 6.4% we had in December. Reno County’s rate also increased from 5.2 % in December to 5.6% in January.

According to the numbers released early Tuesday morning, 1,444 residents in Hutchinson were out of work, while 19-thousand, 599 were employed from a work force of 21-thousand, 43.

Harvey County also saw a an increase to 6.6 in January, up from an even 6% in December. Kingman County went from 4.7 % in December to 4.9 % in January.

McPherson County numbers stand at 5.9 % in January, up from 5.3 % in December. Pratt County saw their rate increase to 4.1 % in January, from 3.9 % in December, while Rice County went to 4.4 % in January from 4.2 % the previous month.

Stafford County also saw a slight increase from 4.9 % in December, to 5.2 % in January, and finally the numbers in Sedgwick County rose slightly from 7.5 % in December to 7.7 % in January.

But, officials say the state saw an overall decline in the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate and an over the year gain in non-farm jobs.

According to January 2012 estimates, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.1 %, down from 6.4 % in December 2011. Kansas gained 12,200 non-farm jobs over the year, a
0.9 % and 22,200 private sector jobs, indicating a decline in government jobs.

“The continued growth of private sector jobs is particularly encouraging. We hope this pace continues through 2012,” Karin Brownlee, Kansas Secretary of Labor, said.

Due a decline of the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate to below 6.5 percent, the State Extended Benefits program will expire in Kansas on April 7, 2012. The end of this program is a result of our growing economy.

Eight of the 11 major industries in Kansas reported over-the-year job gains. The increase in construction jobs, 7.9 percent, is especially promising because this industry historically loses jobs in January.