The national economy has continued to struggle into 2011. Real GDP increased at a rate of 1.8 percent, the slowest rate since second quarter 2010. At the same time, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has continued to correct and revise existing labor data. National employment declined 0.8 percent in 2010. The last half of 2010 and into 2011 employment has stabilized.
Kansas employment declined 1.5 percent in 2010. Although the rate is higher than the U.S., Kansas entered the recession six months later than the U.S. The unemployment rate has declined a full percentage point since its peak rate of 8.2 percent in July 2009. In March 2011, the unemployment rate in Kansas was 7.1 percent. That being said, the unemployment rate has increased 0.7 percentage point since December 2010. A weak expansion is expected to continue throughout 2011 for a modest net employment gain of about 0.4 percent.
To read the complete 2011 forecast revision for Kansas, click here.