Wichita Employment Forecast
Last Updated October 2016
In the last twelve months, employment in the Wichita metropolitan area has grown by 0.8 percent. For 2017, Wichita total nonfarm employment is forecast to increase by 2,487 jobs, which implies the anticipated growth rate is to be 0.8 percent.
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The production sectors are expected to add fewer than 100 jobs in 2017, with a 0.1 percent growth rate. The manufacturing sector is projected to grow 0.4 percent, while the natural resources and construction sector is projected to contract slightly.
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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.
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The service sectors are forecast to be the fastest growing portion of the Wichita area economy, with 1.4 percent growth. Professional and business services are expected to have the strongest growth, adding over 1,000 new jobs. Both the education and health services sector and the leisure and hospitality sector are projected to have employment growth rates of 1 percent or higher as well
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Government employment is expected to increase slightly in 2017, growing by 0.2 percent. Federal and state government employment is forecast to decline slightly while local government employment grows.