TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Labor released 2011 to 2013 short-term and 2010 to 2020 long-term economic projections today, predicting total employment in the state to grow by more than 1 percent through both time periods.

Since the first quarter of 2010, Kansas’ worst point during the recession, the state economy has slowly increased in the number of jobs. The short-term projections indicate that this positive trend will continue into 2013, growing by 21,752 jobs or 1.5 percent. The long-term projections predict Kansas to add an average of 17,774 jobs per year through 2020, a 1.2 percent gain each year.

“We are seeing a turnaround in the State of Kansas economy, with growth predicted in both the short and long-term economic projections,” said Secretary Lana Gordon, Interim Secretary of Labor. ”These reports show that we should have an optimistic outlook regarding the future recovery for Kansas.”

The long-term projections predict the average employment gain for the ten-year period, leveling economic expansions and contractions. The short-term projections account for the current conditions and the overall trends of the economy.

The industries with the largest increases in the short-term projections are administrative and support services, professional scientific and technical services, and ambulatory health care services. These three industries are projected to create 11,116 of the projected 21,752 new jobs.

“These projections give us insight into the labor market of the future – what jobs will be available, what industries will be growing,” said Tyler Tenbrink, Labor Economist. “Anyone planning their career in Kansas can benefit from the information provided.”

The long-term projections report the healthcare and education sector will create 45 percent of all job growth through 2020, which amounts to 79,239 jobs. The professional, scientific and technical services industry is predicted to produce the second most jobs through the next 10 years, adding 16,025 jobs or 26.5 percent.

The 2013 projections are the first to include on-the-job training and work experience needed for an occupation along with the education requirement always included in the projections. The educational and training category expected to grow the fastest, at 3.1 percent, is the Bachelor’s degree with moderate-term on-the-job-training.

The 2020 projections show three of the top 10 fastest growing occupations are personal home care aides, home health aides and personal financial advisors.

To see the full projections, go to https://www.dol.ks.gov/.