2008-2018 Occupational Outlook shows job and wage trends across Kansas

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Labor Friday released the 2008-2018 Occupational Outlook, a collection of job projections covering a wide variety of topics; including industry and job growth, geographic location of jobs, education requirements and many other job-related trends throughout the state. The report was assembled by the Kansas Department of Labor Division of Labor Market Information Services.

The Occupational Outlook uses 2008 as a base year and assumes a full employment economy. By assuming full employment, cyclical expansion and contraction of the economy is taken out of the projection.

“The Occupational Outlook is an essential tool for many Kansans; such as students preparing for their future, educators creating curriculum and business leaders projecting future growth,” said Karin Brownlee, Kansas Secretary of Labor.

Key findings of the Occupational Outlook include:

Total employment in Kansas is projected to grow from 1,504,100 in 2008 to 1,651,820 in 2018, an increase of 147,720 jobs or 9.8 percent. This equates to approximately an average net addition of 14,772 jobs per year.

The Health Care and Social Assistance sector has been growing rapidly, and is projected to account for 12.9 percent of all Kansas jobs in the year 2018. This will make Health Care and Social Assistance the largest industry sector in Kansas, surpassing Manufacturing.

The Kansas City region is projected to grow the fastest and add the most jobs compared to other areas of the state, accounting for more than 45 percent of the total statewide job growth.
Jobs requiring a doctoral degree are projected to increase by the highest percentage, 20.6 percent over the 10-year projection period. Jobs in this category pay an average salary of $60,834.

The complete 2008-2018 Occupational Outlook report can be viewed through the Kansas Department of Labor website at www.dol.ks.gov.